At some point, if you’ve checked out my Chirp, you’ll see that each place I’m working on ASLWrite has a post (or will have a post) on Copyright and ASLWrite.

Because of the way the language is developing, it is both pretty much the same as, and not really the same at all, when it comes to working the work.

First things first, no feeding ASLWrite into ai. I can’t stop you and I can’t stop companies from ignoring this, but I can tell you that ASLWrite’s development and stabilization depends on humans producing the content. Ai is about reproducing, reconfiguring and outputting based on what already exists. It doesn’t have cultural and linguistic skills to be part of this communal phase of writing development, but it does have the ability to set standards, no matter how bad, incorrect, or problematic, by its sheer confidence, reach and faith of users in what it says.

If you’re feeding things into ai, and sharing the output of ai when it comes to ASLWrite, you could be harming the past, present and future of sign language writing systems. Please don’t.

Second, most of the copyright rules I’m establishing for the group are based off of the copyright rules in the ASLWrite group at slwrite.org

[Image Description: screenshot of the copyright policy in SLWrite.org’s ASLWrite Dictionary; written by Adrean Clark; see link to be added later for full transcription]

Essentially it says, if its a word or common phrase you can use it if you rewrite it or retype it yourself. Just like if I type the word cat, you can type the word cat; I don’t own that. You don’t have to ask anyone, you don’t have to credit it (thought its lovely if you do) and you can use it in any materials to sell anything (though if you’re a big company you should definitely credit people, or if you’re talking about the genesis of how its made, of course you should do citations correctly, like any other paper)

This also means if you come up with a way of handwriting or typing a word (art not counting) you don’t own it either. Other people, as long as they reproduce the word/simple phrase themselves, (and only the word and simple phrase, not a whole work) can use it how they see fit (barring actually writing correctly, the signing community should have final say over non-signers, but thats not a copyright thing, thats a language respect thing).

Thats how language works and thats why ASLWrite branched off of si5 (a whole other post) – because the community of language has rights to writing, reading and producing the language, not some speakers/signers over others.

In the ASLDictionary on slwrite.org, visual copies of entries must be credited with a little blurb that instructs others to credited. If you copy from the dictionary and then share or use my image for “Support”, Adrean Clarks image for “Support” or Carl Mowry’s image for “Support”, you can do that for educational, personal or non-profitting use for free, as long as you credit.

However, if you wanted to monetize those entries (as opposed to monteizing your own typing or writing of the words or components in those entries), you would have to ask permission and secure the terms of each contributor

If you contributed to that dictionary, your contributions would fall under the same rules.

The thing is, this group isn’t the ASLWrite dictionary on SLWrite.org; Its a creative writing group that will start out simple.

That means sometimes you’ll try out a way of writing a sign that you haven’t contributed to the dictionary. While if someone can write it they could copy it, what does that mean for actual images of your attempt? And the answer is I don’t know.

Archiving and cataloging the evolution of ASLWrite (including incorrect attempts, which can be instructional) is important to the development and history of writing. There has to be flexibility in that. But also, you put work into that specific reproduction of the sign (most likely an image) - who can use your hard work and how should be up to you.

This part is up in the air right now and I think garners more discussion down the road. So I think right now, what matters is the intent and impact - is sharing of the original image permissible? If the intent and impact is to catalogue, archive, preserve and discuss, then yes. If the intent and impact is to take credit for or sell for the dollaz, then no, acquire permission. And either direction, respect public take down requests.

That said, your actual work - stories, poems, stylized work in a piece of art - is yours. Other people have to respect that. That might be me crediting when sharing it, taking it down if they’ve shared it and you don’t want them to, or not sharing your output for profit. Its entirely yours to dictate how you want it shared, if you want it shared, and what terms those are under (share and share alike, only with a contract, share those thumbnails for visibility). Some people will respect this; others won’t; each person has to decide their approach to seeing their work shared in different circumstances (take downs or appreciation etc). This is pretty much the standard for regular writing as well.

So to recap, for this group:

1. If someone writes/types a sign, anyone else can reproduce it by writing or typing it themselves and there are no copy right restrictions.

Added note: Just because somebody wrote something, doesn’t mean its correct. Double check before running with it.

2. If someone writes/types a sign or adds artistic flare to it, sharing the actual image (or reproducing it with the full artistic qualities) can be done to catalogue, archive, preserve and discuss, but not to take credit/profit. Acquire permission. Respect public take down requests of the original author and always credit their work.

Added note: If you’re the originator and want a stricter or less strict usage by others make sure to append that to your posts (on any platform, not just in this group)

3. Stories, poems, art, unique creations all belong in full to each author along with all the usual copyrights afforded other works in writing or images that is used for oral languages. Talk to the original author if you want to make money off of it and always respect take down requests. Never take credit for work that isn’t yours, and credit the original if you can find the source (or as people to help you find who to credit) if you’re using it as part of fair use.

Added note: given that d/Deaf;HH/Hoh/HI and other people part of communities that have hearing issues, non-verbal, or other disabilities often have their work repurposed without compensation and are often economically disadvantaged while other people gain from their labor, if you can, when using/sharing work under non-compensatory policies, support those authors in what ways they’ve said best helps them (whether its sharing, not sharing, or whether its sending some money). If you’re not part of these groups, try to prioritize and defer to those that are (but that doesn’t mean don’t try to write and it doesn’t mean don’t share! It just means don’t take up all of the social and financial space).

Always get feedback from people who sign and people with more experience with ASLWrite, ideally from SLWrite.org who is run by an original founder and a super user of this particular writing system.