 |
|
In a single word : yes.
It is not possible to copyright or trademark a langage. It is it possible to copyright an actual dictionnary, but not the words in it.
Therefore, it is legal for the Talossan Language project to create it's own dictionnary.
No, not at all. The copyright on the Klingon language is an urban legend.
Anyone can use the language, publish a new dictionary or write a new grammar on the Klingon language without having to seek permission from the language creator or Paramount picture.
However, the word Klingon itself is trademarked. It is therefore illegal to sell books using the name Klingon without the permission of the trademark owners.
In other words, the language itself isn't copyrighted, but it's name is protected under the trademark laws.
Once again, no.
Only creative creations can be copyrighted, not their components. It is illegal to violate a portion of a copyrighted work, but this protection doesn't apply to the words composing the work itself.
For example, it would be illegal to copy a speech in Talossan issued by R.Ben.Madison without is permission, but it is legal to reuse the words contained in the speech, as long as they do not form the same sentences.
Yes. You can copyright a dictionary to prevent someone from making illegal copies of your dictionary. You can prevent someone from using the same structure of phrase for your definitions, since the definitions themselves are copyrighted.
The actual format of the dictionary could also be copyrighted to some extend, since copyright also applied to design, graphics and other visual forms of art.
However, the meaning of the translation cannot be copyrighted.
But in the case of a Talossan/English dictionary, with the exception of prefaces, there are no complete definitions.
For example, if an entry in Mr Madison's dictionary was :
Boat - a vehicule that floats on water to transport people or merchandise - vaißál (m)
It would be illegal to reproduce it's definition, since it is composed of an actual phrase.
It would be legal to define it as follows :
Boat - floating vehicule used for transportation of goods or people - vaißál (m)
Since the definitition is not copied word for word, but a new original creation.
In the case of the Talossan/English dictionary however, there are no complete definitions, only small attributes.
BOAT [LARGE] {d85} vaißál (m)
Which, in itself, cannot be copyrighted.
R. Ben Madison recently explained his vision for the Talossan Language:
"The Talossan language is not an abstraction; it is a central part of Talossanity, and Talossanity is defined by the Organic Law. Citizens of the Kingdom of Talossa are Talossans. Everybody else is not a Talossan.
The Talossan language was created not as an amorphous conlang project for the world. It is not Esperanto. It was created for one purpose and one purpose only: to give a linguistic identity to the Kingdom of Talossa. It is a language for Talossans only, not for [Citizens of the Republic of Talossa]."
Naturally, the Language is part of the linguistic identity of the Kingdom of Talossa. However, because of it's beauty, Talossan must transcend the Kingdom of Talossa itself and be made available to any learner, just like any language. Irish isn't less a part of the Irish identity because foreigners take an interest in it.
While the Talossan Language cannot be copyrighted, nor the grammar rules or the words themselves, the actual dictionary and grammar can be copyrighted.
As such, the Talossan-Language project has for goal the creation of open source Dictionaries and grammars for the Talossan language, based on the official Talossan as define by the official CÚG, which is composed entirely of citizens of the Kingdom of Talossa.
Our goal is not to modify the language, but rather to free it from the Kingdom. To make it available to the free world.
The Online dictionary, already available here is the first step. Grammar books and lessons will eventually follow.
Everyone is welcomed into participating into the project, including citizens of the Kingdom of Talossa or even Mr Madison himself.