permaculture

[Scott Pittman <pci@permaculture-inst.org>]

"Misguided notion" means that the understanding is erroneous.  Since the 
logo appeared on the cover of "Permaculture A Designer's Manual" by Bill 
Mollison everyone has been using it but it is copyrighted and registered 
and it is illegal to use it and Bill has made that clear in several 
venues.  He shouldn't have to police the use of his copyrighted material 
any more than any other writer should.
All he has required is that people get permission to use his intellectual 
property from him.  This is a common practice among writers, artists, and 
other creative folks to protect their work and I don't know why people take 
such umbrage just because it is permaculture rather than nuclear 
science.  If you use the logo without permission you may be sued for 
infringement of copyright.

The earth care intention of this approach is that if we rip each other off 
we are no different from the mindless corporate heads who are ripping off 
the planet.  It's actually more of a people care kind of thing.  How would 
you feel if you nurtured an apple orchard to bearing age and once they 
fruited your neighbors and friends stripped the tree for their own use, and 
on top of that insult added the injury of claiming they produced it?

At 11:01 AM 7/20/00 -0700, you wrote:
> Does "misguided notion" indicate a lack of clarity from those who
> attempt to guide/control permaculture, or from those who have not been
> adequately apprised by them of their rights as permaculturalists? What
> if it's a different color snake, or the other elements of the symbol
> are slightly changed? What happens if someone does use the logo without
> written permission?
>
> What is the "earth care" intention of this approach?
>
> I ask these questions because, as a relatively new permaculturalist,
> I've encountered widespread confusion about the most basic
> organizational issues. I'm wondering who can provide definitive
> clarity, so that young permaculturalists like me are not misguided in
> our good-faith efforts. Is there an easily researchable "Rules and
> Regulations" about what permaculturalists are permitted to do, or
> should we simply do whatever we want and assume someone will notify us
> if they have a problem with it?

I think that between "Permaculture a Designer's Manual" and the "Foundation 
Year-Book of The Permaculture Academy" you have most of the information you 
need.  But this discussion is based on international understandings that 
you shouldn't use someone's art or words without permission and then 
attribution.

> Thanks,
> Verne

Your welcome
Scott