public verses private domain?
Why is it, that when we compose an email, and click the send button, it becomes public domain, and anyone is able to resend it, and take it out of context? And when I compose a one page website, with the entire email on it, it becomes a private domain, and I can copyright it, when I hit the enter button? (Honestly, Monica)
Update:So, in essence, the vehicle of posting information on the internet, is the decisive factor of making an article public verses private.
So now I can take a copyrighted article, email it to myself, and then redistribute the email, and now it would be considered in the public domain?
But honestly monica, what's on the internet, is on the internet, regardless of how it got there. It's apparently available for all eyes to see it. So why is email treated differently, than say a web page?
Comments
I think what's going on is that most emails are impossible to control once out of your possession, so the law takes practicality into account. However, information contained in emails may be considered proprietary and/or private. Some companies and people are sensitive to the privacy of e-mail and include disclaimers that their content may not be forwarded without authorization. That always gets my attention when I see it. I don't know if it would hold up in court, but I don't plan to test it.
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Edit: No, because the copyrighted material you included in your email is still protected. Putting it in your email in no way changed that. I was referring to your original communication, not any previously copyrighted material.