Copyright Infringement / Violation

[VaNurse]

Jack has shared with us that he is facing a lawsuit involving copyright violations on this site. This is a nightmare he doesn't need. In order to help him out, cite your source whenever you cut and paste from another site.

Recently I read a post that included a complete article from somewhere else. Nowhere could I find the original author or source listed. I'm not an expert in Internet law by any means but I'm certain this isn't acceptable by any standards. Whoever created the original text and/or concept needs to be given credit where credit is due!

Particularly now, since he's having to deal with this headache, please include a hyperlink to the original article and credit the original writer. It's the right thing to do and helps keep Jack from being forced to deal with unnecessary crap. :nono:

 

[Terryray]

Don't cut and paste complete articles!!

Don't cut and paste complete articles!!

Actually, pasting an complete article without citing source is safer than citing the source with complete article---citing gives the copywrite holder a nice easy way to find violators!

But by far safest of all is to not cut and paste complete articles!!

The proper way to quote and cite is to:

- Copy a quote or few sentences you like, or summary of article.

- Put what you cut and pasted in quote wraps or in color block that makes it obvious it not what you wrote.

- provide the source you got it from, Name of Newspaper or wire service, or author's name if ya don't have that. You don't have to provide hyperlink, but that is nice too.

- Make some personal comment on the piece, any opinion or wisecrack at all--this shows you aren't just stealing, but making "fair use" of piece by using it for furthur purposes.

looks like this:

can you imagine being this fellow?

"Millionaire gives away fortune that made him miserable...Austrian millionaire Karl Rabeder is giving away every penny of his ?3 million fortune after realising his riches were making him unhappy."

read full article here, from the Telegraph Media Group Ltd.

 

[VaNurse]

Actually, pasting an complete article without citing source is safer than citing the source with complete article---citing gives the copywrite holder a nice easy way to find violators!

How is this, Terry? I would think that citing the source is giving them credit?? I was surprised to find that there is software that allows sources to scour the 'Net to find infractions! I thought it worked by searching blocks of text. Does is also seek unapproved uses of cited materials?

 

[Terryray]

By "safer" I meant it's not better from a legal standpoint. Neither citing or not citing is better legally, if you post full article. By "safer" I meant that violator is less likely to be caught!

I've seen folks mention this on other forums...

the quick way copywrite holders find violators is to search their name and organization.

searching blocks of text can turn up lots of proper citations, and you gotta do search on each article you provided (hundreds a week for a newspaper)--whereas author and organization is relatively few terms to search.

I imagine after they get enough hits with author and organization search, they then investigate in more detail. Some fancy software might do this text search easier. But most searches are done by the authors themselves, without much support from anyone.

But yes, searching large or complete blocks of text would be best, if no restrictions. But I believe most would do the most efficient + easy method.

the copywrite violation is to use the full, or most, of author's work. That is the No-No! It is nice and kind to mention them, and many are kind and nice enough to thank you for that as they give you warning not to use full, or most, of text in future. Some aren't so kind.

But posting full text is a copywrite violation, whether you give author or organization credit or not. Giving them credit, or citing the source, doesn't help you much legally at all, if you stole most of their work. Unless they give you permission, of course.

that's my 2 cents windbag opinion + speculation from non-lawyer!

 

[King69]

STOP CUTTING AND PASTING 100%.

POST A LINK TO THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL AND JACK IS OFF THE HOOK COMPLETELY.

 

[hedgehog]

STOP CUTTING AND PASTING 100%.

POST A LINK TO THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL AND JACK IS OFF THE HOOK COMPLETELY.

I agree...:toast: