Private Letters Made Public

[Ric.ror]

If I am sent a letter addressed to me - say from my employer- am I entitled to make the letter public?
No reason at all to ask just interested to know

Cheers

[murraymints]

unless it is marked private and confidential..but even then unless it contains anything of a libelous nature don't see why not?

[hc4361]

The paper the letter is written on belongs to you but the contents of the letter belong to the sender - the copyright.
You are not allowed to make the letter public without the sender's permission.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3204121.stm

[murraymints]

HC is stand corrected x

[murraymints]

I ^^

[Ric.ror]

And if it's an email?

[woofgang]

same

[New Judge]

But remember that "copyright" only refers to making copies of them (either on paper or electronically). There is nothing to prevent you "making it public" by showing the original to other people.

[murraymints]

so you can produce original letter and pass around but not send a copy or put on social media ?

[New Judge]

Yes.

Copyright protection only applies to reproducing the work. Recent (well fairly recent) court cases have ruled that electronic reproduction, such as passing on e-Mails or sending Word documents to others, can be covered by copyright. But unless there are specific conditions quoted in the letter (e.g. "don't show this to anybody without getting my permission first") then you can show it to whoever you like.

[murraymints]

how about just pinning it up in shop window..any window or notice board ?

[Ric.ror]

You cannot imagine the good thoughts I am sending out to you good people

[woofgang]

and you had no reason to ask????????

[Peter Pedant]

If you wish to have your letter kept confidential you MUST put private and confidential on top
and for the addressee - FAO Mr John Smith ( for the attention of)
Permission of both parties is then necessary

otherwise it isnt ( confidential )

for legal letters with out of court offers - it should be "without prejudice"

I think a lot of the advice you have been given is about other people "finding" letters - Pelling springs to mind ( semi autistic rooter of dustbins er of legal firms who threw readable carbons out - that is how the paddy pantsdown debacle hit the public )

Emails I thought were just about as private as post cards

[Peter Pedant]

benjamin pell - - here

https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Benjamin%20Pell

[Deskdiary]

I received a legal letter from a solicitor acting for my previous employer about 5 years ago which was headed "Not for Publication" in addition to P&C.

Had never seen that before, and have not seen it since (I deal with solicitors a lot).