Continuing the highjacking of this thread

The problem here is that a lot of what you are talking about has to do with trademark issues and not copyright.

For example "BDSM Library" is not copyrightable however it might be able to be trademarked. "Levis" is a trademark not a copyright. Mickey Mouse is a trademark, but his image is copyrighted.

A good place to start to learn about these issues is here for copyrights:

http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html

and here for trademarks

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/doc/basic/

I know these are US laws and there will be differences with other countries laws, however we are on a US web server so these laws apply to material posted here.

I hope this will also help keep anyone from being falsely accused of breaking copyright laws which is a crime called libel when done in a public forum like the one we have here.

Besides, not only is it interesting reading, as authors it is information everyone should know anyway.