copywriting handsigns, symbols, colors, etc.
 

I was online doing some research today and I noticed that there are some groups with similar, and in some cases the same handsigns. Are greek organizations able to copyright handsigns, symbols, colors, etc?

not to get into copyright law, but the short answer is no

Agreeing w/ kddani, but elaborating that while handsigns, symbols and colors themselves cannot be copyrighted (or registered as registered marks), a particular, distinctive combination of, say, colors and a symbol, could be copyrighted.

And technically it's a trademark, not a copyright. Ask me all about trademarks in a few days, I have the final next week.

Let's say for example there is a certain type of organization out there, a music organization for example, that decides to use a particular handsign. If the handsign and organization are copywrighted/trademarked/whatever in some sort of combination, can another music organization use the same handsign?

You cannot copyright or trademark a handsign, just as you can't copyright/trademark a particular dance move, football play (ex.- hail mary), or sexual position!

It's a silly thing to cause a fight over. You have no way of stopping them. There has been no injury caused to you because if it (using you in a general sense, not specifically OP). You'd have no redress in court. You cannot specifically pinpoint the day and who specifically came up with the handsign. Not to mention that someone (possibly even the deaf!) may have used the handsign long before the org did.

So the answer is NO!

Are we talking about copyrighting or copywriting? Or copywrighting?

Obviously you can't copyRIGHT handsigns.

But you can copyWRITE to your heart's content. Feel free to submit as many articles as you'd like about handsigns to your local advertising agency or other editorial outlet.

CopyWRIGHTing I guess would be if someone ripped up your article about handsigns and you had to piece it back together with tape and glue. That should be OK as well.

Fraternity and sorority ceremonies are often copyrighted by the copy writers so other groups don't copy their rites.

[/snark]


;)
wptw

Thanks, kddani, and good luck!

I never can remember exactly where the boundary line is between copyrights/trademarks/service marks, etc. Glad I don't the exam anytime soon, and glad not to practice in that area of the law.

Ah, what you have wrought. You have been missed!

Sorry for misspelling. Thanks everyone for your feedback.