Press

For Immediate Release 3/8/2002 CopyNo.com: New "multi-level copyright warning/system" created to better protect a visual creator's Internet-based images If 95% of all illegally re-posted, individual Internet images are the result of traditional "mouse-click" downloading, CopyNo says it can reduce that percentage -- to zero. Billed as a "multi-level copyright warning/system for artists", CopyNo is both an application and web site -- an intuitive, drag and drop system that auto-generated JavaScript-based html code that prevents the "mouse-click" downloading of individual images, and a web-based warning system that notifies the potential infringer of the illegality of extracting the images using other methods and subsequently re-using or re-posting them. "Professional artists, illustrators, photographers, cartoonists and visual creators have become increasingly concerned over the illegal use of our online images", says illustrator Bob Staake, "and we thought it was time to try and do something about it -- before we become the next group to become 'Napstered' into oblivion." An illustrator who's work appears in such venues as The Washington Post to MAD magazine, the Cartoon Network to Hallmark Cards, Staake didn't need to look far to find a partner to create a workable CopyNo system. His son, Ryan, saw how CopyNo could benefit visual creators, and through his software development company, Melonsoft, set out to create what he calls "an intuitive and simple application that any creator of Internet images should be very interested in exploiting." "CopyNo works with JavaScript-enabled browsers, and so it is not completely foolproof", says the younger Staake. "That's why the concept includes a dynamic web-based component. Click on the CopyNo-protected image and you're instantly transported to a legal warning page." "Ironically", says the elder Staake, "once someone realizes that they cannot download an individual image with a click of the mouse yet still decide to ignore the very aggressive copyright notice in order to 'get' the image(s), they clearly demonstrate 'bad faith'. Violating an artist's copyright is bad enough, but making a deliberate, conscientious and aggressive effort to really work at snagging that image -- that makes the copyright violation and infraction all the more serious, and the legal damages potentially far greater." "The hardest part of any copyright case to prove is the intent of the violator, and Copyno will make that proof a cinch", says Attorney Joshua C. Needle and owner of Impolitic.com. "A violator's 'I didn't know I couldn't put that cartoon on t-shirts' defense just won't work if you steal images from a site using Copyno." The CopyNo site also takes the positive tact of encouraging individuals to secure the legal right or permission to use an image by contacting the visual creator directly. Response to CopyNo from the professional illustration, cartooning, photography and design community has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic, a 72 hour trial version of CopyNo system/application being made available. There is a $20.00 (US) registration/shareware fee for individual sites. Currently CopyNo is for Mac only, but a Windows version is slated for debut in March of 2002. "Think of the Internet without art, photos, cartoons, illustrations and designs", says the elder Staake. "Our hope is that CopyNo will better protect the rights of ALL visual creators -- one image at a time."   Related sites: CopyNo.com BobStaake.com Melonsoft.com --------------------------------------------------- For additional information use the CopyNo contact page