Who owns poem copyright?

Charityworker

If this is in the wrong section please move it.

I've got a little side line going making prayer boxes. Inside them is a poem which reads:

"When your head is full of worry and your mind can't rest
Put your thoughts on paper and let god do the rest".

It's a little decorated tin with the poem in the lid and a little notebook and pen inside.

Now another prayer box maker has accused me of stealing her poem. There's literally hundreds of people making these prayer boxes at craft fairs. They have been around for years. But even though I'm 100% sure she didn't originally write the poem I'd like to find out who did. Any way of doing it?

Mojisola

Charityworker wrote: »

Now another prayer box maker has accused me of stealing her poem. There's literally hundreds of people making these prayer boxes at craft fairs. They have been around for years.

But even though I'm 100% sure she didn't originally write the poem I'd like to find out who did. Any way of doing it?

Ask her to prove that she is the author?

paddyrg

She could well be right, but ask for evidence of the copyright date. What seems pretty clear is that if you started using it after you saw it elsewhere, it's not your own original creation and hence someone else's, copied. I'd start thinking of your own creations either way.

unforeseen

Have a look on Google and that poem is used by hundreds of people including the US. I doubt she has the copyright as there are lots of co.panies using it.

It's so common that it is probably out of copyright

unforeseen

Considering its propensity across the internet where it appears on commercially produced prayer boxes as well as a lot of DIY ones then I doubt she ones the copyright.

As people above have said,let her prove copyright ownership

fewgroats

Just come up with a better poem. You can have this one for free.


"When life gets too hard and it's hard to please.
Try a prayer to keep you at your ease."

paddyrg

unforeseen wrote: »

Have a look on Google and that poem is used by hundreds of people including the US. I doubt she has the copyright as there are lots of co.panies using it.

It's so common that it is probably out of copyright

Mickey mouse is common, but very much within copyright - that's not a useful gauge!

The earliest date I could find it being used was 2012, although it was a cursory search. It may have been used widely by people who can't be bothered to be original, but that doesn't mean the author shouldn't pursue their dues.

Ozzuk

If want sleep soundly with prayer to ease
Then don't fall foul of legalese
Check your sources, don't be fraught
Or make up your own and you won't get caught!