© and copyright

I came across a local website that links to other blogs and sites, and put a "Copyright © 2008" behind. It is highly likely to be infringing the Copyright Act.

What is copyright actually? According to the Copyright Act, "27.(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, where an original literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work has been published (a) copyright shall subsist in the work."
To put it simpler in less law sor term, anything that is original is protected by copyright. Such as your blog entries.

How long is it protected? "28.(2) Subject to this section, where, by virtue of this Part, copyright subsists in a literary, dramatic or musical work, or in an artistic work other than a photograph, that copyright shall continue to subsist until the expiration of 70 years after the expiration of the calendar year in which the author of the work died."
Again, to put it simpler, your work will be protected for 70 years + your remaining life.

Who owns the copyright? "30.(2) Subject to this section, the author of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work shall be entitled to any copyright subsisting in the work by virtue of this Part."
Copy and pasting other people's work and putting a "Copyright © 2008" behind doesn't make you the copyright owner.

What about the offences? Nah it sounds too scary, let's just say it includes fine and imprisonment.

So, if the kid is not your son, don't go around telling people claiming he's your son.