Screenshots of copyrighted programs

Hi! Can someone explain me if we make a screenshot for a copyrighted program lets say Photoshop to create a tutorial for the same program, what will be the status of that screenshot? It will be protected by copyright for the one who did that screenshot or the copyright will still remain of Adobe and therefore we will not have the right to use it on our tutorials....

 

If it is copyright, then it'll still remain with with original creator/ write. Doesn't matter if you create a image or video out of it.

 

Then how to create photos for that tutorial?

 

You can use the screenshots under the Fair Use clause of US Copyright Law for educational/instructional purposes only. So yes - a tutorial would be okay.

However, if you plan to sell that tutorial and profit from it, then no - you cannot use screenshots of copyrighted programs under most instances of the Fair Use clause.

http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html

 

Thank you for the information! I have always wonder myself about the copyright status of images of software until I've read your post. Thanks yet again.

 

You're welcome!

 

But if we put Adsense or affiliate ads on that tutorial site could this be considered as a fair use situation?

 

There's always a risk but I don't think anybody will chase you down for doing it.

 

Using the screenshots of Adobe won't get you into trouble as you are not distributing the actual software.
What you are doing is helping existing Adobe photoshop users use their software effectively or driving few people to actually buy their software.
I have seen many top level blogs using the screenshots in their reviews and tech updates.

 

Profit = not fair use.

Adsense = profit.

 

This conclusion is not correct. It is a simplistic and inaccurate reading of the law.

While there are multiple factors that are examined in a fair use determination, the fact that a work is commercial does not mean fair use can never apply as the post above implies.

 

I think the definitions used here are too narrow. If this true I don't know how we supposed to get any license to distribute our own screenshots. Maybe big media got connections, but small time blogger?

 

Then you're certainly free to disregard what I said and do your own research - and you can start with the link I posted to the original text of the law.