Silliman's Blog

I find it deeply disappointing when journals I enjoy (e.g., Jacket) post ridiculously aggressive "copyright" demands. Here's theirs:

Please respect the fact that all material in Jacket magazine is copyright © Jacket magazine and the individual authors 2008; it is made available here without charge for personal use only, and it may not be stored, displayed, published, reproduced, or used for any other purpose.

This is totally misguided and probably nearly illegal. First of all, I doubt they've made arrangements for joint (c). Actually, all of the poems remain (c) the authors (absent a copyright transfer) and so Jacket has no standing to make demands on anything but anthologist copyright.

Further, (c) does not give you the right to dictate how you use the material ("personal use only"?) -- this is all codified in law. Finally, Jacket's statement here misleads people about their fair use rights, which allow a great deal of latitude in reproduction.

I think it's good to be explicit about how you give -- liberate, as Richard Stallman would say -- your content. I use (and encourage everyone to use) attribution-only creative commons for any work they distribute on their own, and to make grouchy remarks to publishers who reproduce their works with onerous demands.

I'm just waiting for someone to tell me to take a poem off of rhubarb because I'm violating copyright. Man are they going to get an earfull.

# posted by

Simon : December 20, 2007

Not only did Random House censure Jeffers's The Double Axe, they also wrote a big disclaimer on the dustjacket. It's good to remember that even major publishers with reputations for decency and "free speech" (i.e., Random House's decision to challenge the censors' rejection of Ulysses and introduce it to American audiences), still have their limits, and will act to curb the free exchange of ideas.

Censorship is alive and well today. Say something that crosses these invisible boundaries, and you'll hit the walls of accepted dogma. There is correct and incorrect speech everywhere.

# posted by

Curtis Faville : December 20, 2007

It is certainly peculiar--and probably scandalous--that LOA chose to publish only a small "selection" of WCW's poems, while devoting full-volume work-ups of Pound, Crane, Frost, and Stevens. Certainly there is no justification from the point of view of bulk, since Williams's total output runs to perhaps 1000 pages of poetry alone, with generous doses of prose as well. He gets the same treatment as Samuel Menashe (Samuel Menashe??????--Menashe is a very quaint miniaturist, but eligible for the same treatment as WCW and LZ???). This might be the occasion for a diatribe from Ron on the continuing marginalization of better poetry. Here we are 50 years after WCW's death, and the battle for his legitimacy is STILL being fought.

I suppose Jeffers's work will get the same cold shoulder. After all, he broke ranks and spoke out against "the last good war". Can't have people like that polluting our children's minds!

# posted by

Curtis Faville : December 20, 2007

For one UK take on the "best of 07", Stride Magazine's list can be found here: http://www.stridemagazine.co.uk/Stride%20mag%202007/dec%202007/best%20of%2007.htm I post it in total ingenuous disinterestedness, forgetting for a moment that I'm on it (grin). I bet no-one who reads this blog, including me, ever thought I'd make anyone's "best of list" (and no, I am not buddies with the editor). But if one looks at the other poets on this list, it does have *some* integrity.

# posted by

John B-R : December 20, 2007

My only contact with W. D. Snodgrass was and is through his Heart's Needle, so thank you for this interview.

Since I am from Wisconsin, I wish I could participate in Woodland Pattern's marathon reading, but that seems not possible.

As to copyright, I somewhat opened the door on my AOL blog's homepage; and now there are "Madman" Salchert designs of some kind being sold. Oh well.

# posted by

brian salchert : December 20, 2007

Well, it is a sort of typo, since I imagine the final hour of it occurs on the 27th.

# posted by

Murk Plectrum : December 21, 2007

Brian,
Woodland Pattern sponsored/hosted
the Lorine Niedecker 100th
November, 2003.. a 'stellar' event many of LN's friends involved.. last visit with Cid Shizumi Corman/ do
go to to the Woodland Pattern web site..a terrific Niedecker section (linked to at the top (and bottom) and a link to some of Bob Arnold's thoughts and Susan's photos in a side box..
also, on my site additional photos of the event...
cheers, Ed Baker

# posted by

Ed : December 21, 2007

Ron,

Armloads of thank-yous for posting something by Lisa Robertson. That piece is utter Lisa. Drilled down & pure her. Pure she. Words ripe in the mouth, available…and not. & yeah, she is as lovely & coy & confident as her poems -- "She will be the pronoun of her analysis."

More please.

# posted by

barnes : December 21, 2007

Ed,

Thank you. I will. I have a copy
of Niedecker's Collected Works which Tom Montag sent to me.

*****,
Brian

# posted by

brian salchert : December 21, 2007

Brian sent you an email w more details

Jenny (Penberthy) was also with us at the LN 100th..

Cid was LN's lit exec and her friend only one recording (a tape) of LN reading was made by Cid when he went to visit Lorine..for the first and only 'face to-face' time
just before she died. Cid played it for us at the 100 th..
The LN Collected Works done with Cid's permission
Jenny a 'sweet-heart'! check out her
LORINE NIEDECKER Woman and Poet I just pulled it off of my shelf and
got teary-eyed.. will be up late reading and..
a photo of her w Cid I took at the 100 th also on my site..
thanks, Ed

# posted by

Ed : December 21, 2007

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Thursday, December 20, 2007

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