3/31    I own a small Chinese in el cerrito.I called city hall and asked if/how
        I could get a copy of the blue prints.  (I may want to knock down a
        wall or two).  They told me that they would *not* make a copy of the
        blue prints for me as blue prints are copyrighted.  Now it seems to me
        that, as the owner of the damn house, i have a pretty strong fair use
        claim to a copy of the blue prints.  What gives?  What should i do??
        \_ you own the house, not the copyright to the blueprints.  Find out
           who actually owns the blueprint copyright and persue a copy from
           them.
           \_ I did not imply that I did.  There are lots of things that I
              don't own that, none-the-less, I am able to copy for personal
              use.  Get the question now?
           \_ You do not own the picture that I just took of you! ;)
              \_ Actually, he might depending on the circumstances.
              \_ If he's not a public figure and he buys the picture from you,
                 he owns the physical picture and you own the copyright.  If he
                 is a movie star or something, I don't know.
                 \_ are you a lawyer or something? ;)
                    \_ No, but I'm a freelance wedding photog on weekends.
        \_ See if they'll let you inspect the blueprints.  Then take a picture
           with a good-quality camera.
           \- You could also pull a Sandy Burger. --psb
        \_ Hire an architect to draw a blueprint of your building.  That's what
           I did when I remodeled my house when the city didn't have a blue
           print available.