Originally posted by mykidsmom: Too bad there is no copy right on it....
There is copyright protection on original works produced after a particular date. I would guess that your letterhead was developed after the date that would have required registering with the office of copyright. While I’m fairly sure that you have a legitimate copyright infringement concern considering your communication and warnings to the person and her superiors, I would have to think long and hard before pursuing such action. You might consider a letter, on behalf of your group, to the person and copy it to the principal and the district superintendent. State that it has been an ongoing issue, that you have communicated your concerns in the past and there has been no corrective action taken. This is your final request. You are exploring legal options under copyright infringement statutes. And most important tell them that you need a response with a solution by a specific date. The problem here is you have to back up what you put in writing.
OK…but is it worth straining the relationship? Or… are the kids more important? I think so. Keep the relationship, strained it may be, it’s for the good of the kids.
OH MY GOODNESS!!! I feel so sorry for you. We are very lucky that our principal is very supportive of our group. Here is a suggestion that might work. Get some stickers made (like official seals) that say something like "Official PTA News" and put them on everypaper. This way she would only be able to take the "seal" off of her letter that you send to her but not for the rest of the school. More work for you but ....
I like Michelle's idea. Since she has pasted your letterhead on her own paper, then it's time to get a stamp or something else that will only be in your possession. Order one, then INSIST to the company that no others be made without your approval. Good luck!!
i would go back to distributing a memo to parents that "some flyers are being sent home represented as being from the PTA, they are not. Approved PTA flyers will be individually stamped with our official stamp" Sure a little more work but seriously what will she do next?
Design your own stamp, use a distinctive color of ink and stamp the flyers as official. She can't just cut that out because she wouldn't be able to recreate the color or the look. After a while, you can go back to the old way.
This woman's just plain ridiculous...and petty, and nasty, and alot of other things, too! It's not that she needs to use our letterhead. It's just that I've asked her not to, and her nose has been bent out of shape (for a year) because I actually had the audacity to talk to her about it. Now she simply does it out of spite. I'm no ballerina, and quite frankly, I'm tired of going around on my toes!
We have just the opposite problem, NO ONE uses the school logo on their newsletters like they are suppose to!
Too bad there is no copy right on it....I guess I don't understand why she needs to use your letterhead, what is the "big deal"? For her, I mean...were does she get off? Isn'tit amazing how no one tip toes around us but we have to tip toe around 35 year veteran teachers......
