rockingmtranch wrote:Nightwatch, are you saying if I post on a forum, it is protected? Can you elaborate on that more?
Thank you for bringing this matter for more elaboration. Yes, in general terms, in its definition, an act of publishing is nothing other than making a written material available for others (general public, to whomever may have access to the referred format of publication) in any technically possible and known way, which includes (alongside the more traditional and increasingly getting old-fashioned way of on-paper publishing, and many others ways of publications) also the all types of electronic publication -which are defined as of -not limited with- internet sites, and most common of those are the forums and other various dedicated sites (e.g. literary sites, discussion sites, etc).
As soon as a work is made available for public (here, the concept and act of availability is important, not that how many people read/view it or not) the material in question becomes copyrighted on the name of its creator under internationally recognized laws, regardless of whether he/she earns monies out of it. Of course, it goes without saying that this material "must" be unique and not a repeat of already known and/or published before.
This material may well be in the general definition of literature, as well as it can be an offered "unique" solution for any kind of matter (e.g. software, scientific, technical, artistic, etc, you name it)
Also, the material is not limited with written-word literature, it can well be any kind of art, including graphical art, motion pictures, etc.
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For technical/scientific matters:
For example, if one were to offer a "new" solution (in any publication, whether in a print-magazine or on an internet site) for the recently much talked Iphone 4 problem, Apple cannot use it for commercial purposes, or otherwise it would liable for suing.
(PS: In these kind of technical situations, it's advisable that the author of this kind of technical solutions, etc, should consider pointing that the offered solution is for ordinary people to use but he does not extend his solution for the use of companies for commercial purposes, for financial gain. This would strengthen his/her case against such a company.)
](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
Now I have to OC the PC once again. What a joy! 
After wresting with internet change for several hours. 
