Captain Casimir Stanislas D'Arpentigny

Christopher Jones wrote:[I am just reproducing what Johnny Finchman, whom I consider as my hero in the world of chirology, has written.

"johnny fincham johnnyfincham@yahoo.co.uk 17/11/2011
to me
Hi, Yes, you have my permission to use the material - all best wishes, JF"

Anthony - Johnny cannot give you permission to use my material for one simple reason; its not his. You have to seek that permission from me, and you have not! You don't have my permission to use my material, as we have already discussed by email. For you to send me an email saying you have removed all my material and then to find yet more articles with 30+ pages of my History of Handreading material inserted into them without any referencing or acknowledgement just beggars belief.

I have known Johnny for 23 years. He was a student of mine and a colleague at the old Cheirological Society and the books he has written follow closely to the structures created by myself in teaching the beginner's course material over 20 years ago. When his first book was published, I offered him the material he has posted at his site as a gesture of support. You will notice that Johnny is always careful to cite his references and acknowledge his indebtedness. If he is indeed your hero in the handreading world, then you should learn this lesson from him too.

Hi Christopher,

I have the impression that this situation could very well be the direct result of the fact that Johnny did not inform Anthony explicitely about that regarding the 'history' section at Johnnny's website... the copyrights belong to you.

So far I think I must conclude that Johnny did not protect your work in his email conversations with Anthony - looks like Johnny did not mention your name at all. And therefore I hope that Anthony will not blame himself too much for making the mistake.




PS. I actually think Johnny's website presents confusing information regarding where the copyrights belong, because e.g. there is no copyright notification on Johnny's homepage.

At the 'History of Hand Reading' section he does mention: 'Authored by Christopher Jones MA (Oxon)'... but the copyright statement found elsewhere on that page (http://www.johnnyfincham.com/history/index.htm) does not mention your name.

Now it may look like that the statement claims that the owner of www.johnnyfincham.com has the copyrights.

This potential point of confusion would not occure if the article on Johnny's website would have stated:

"© All written material remains the copyright of Christopher Jones MA (OX)"

And finally, because somewhere in the email conversations between Johnny and Anthony... Johnny allowed Anthony to use his 'materials' (without any specification regarding the parts that belong to you, and without ever mentioning your name)... I am not surprized at all that Anthony assumed (incorrectly) that he was allowed to use all materials presented at Johnny's website.

PPS. I hope you have noticed that Anthony has deleted his SCRIPD account + all files. So, I think the problem is already sort of solved now, except that Johnny may not be aware of how his answers to Anthony's questions likely have caused the problem...???.

Christopher Jones wrote:Thanks Martijn, I'll have a word with Johnny.