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1. You cannot provide internal documents as samples without a release.
2. You cannot provide classified documents as samples without a release.
3. You cannot provide documentation written for a specific client and no-one
else without a release.
4. You can provide any document that has been published and is publicly
available, whether online or print, without release under fair use.
For example: If you document an API for the use of the programmers within
the company, you must have permission to show it as an example. If the
company provides that documentation for the use of programmers at an OEM you
still must have permission. But if the same documentation is published for
the use of commercial customers, it is no longer proprietary and is subject
to fair use under copyright law.
The simplest way to judge whether the information is published publicly is
to determine if it is possible for someone not associated with the company
to purchase, access or otherwise legally read the material. If it is, then
you are probably safe.
BUT! to be on safer ground:
* Minimize the amount of material you use.
* Ensure that the material is harmless to the company.
* Try to get them to agree to some specific materials.
Remember they can probably buy more lawyers than you.
A couple of suggestions.
Do some pro bono.
GNU can use writers willing to donate time.
Rewrite some shareware docs up to spec
-Doc
----- Original Message -----
From: "Anonymous" <anonfwd -at- raycomm -dot- com>
Newsgroups: techwr-l
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2002 12:55 PM
Subject: FWD: About proprietary writing samples
>
>
> Forwarded anonymously on request. Please reply to the
> list if you want the original poster to see your message. EJR
> &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
>
> I am putting together a writing portfolio for some upcoming interviews;
> however, I have been informed that many of the samples are proprietary,
and
> cannot be shared with other companies.
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