Question On Copyright

Discussion in 'Legal Issues' started by AFGSummit, Feb 12, 2014.

  1. #1
    Alright, so I just have a question regarding copyright. I own a gaming forum, and like writing news articles on the latest gaming info. I use copyright free photos and link any sources I have. First part, am I doing it right so far? Second, I want to take pictures of games or cases and then upload them onto the internet. Example, take a picture of Grand Theft Auto, and upload it for an article. Would that be copyrighted still? Lastly, what about videos and copyrighted photos on the website. Is that fair use?

    Thanks guys!
     
    AFGSummit, Feb 12, 2014 IP
  2. Draguny

    Draguny Peon

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    #2
    If you wanna be safe you should always name the source of the photos videos etc. you use (like below them) - That should work out.

    In my experience though if you have an offshore host, you usually won't be really bothered with that topics anyway.
    It's also a big question in which country you live.. if it's USA it might be difficult, I personally live in EU where we have these things easier
     
    Draguny, Feb 12, 2014 IP
  3. AFGSummit

    AFGSummit Active Member

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    #3
    I love in the USA, I put the links of the photos in the Sources area on the bottom of my article. Is that ok?
     
    AFGSummit, Feb 12, 2014 IP
  4. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #4
    Until you find you've used a Getty image!

    Open the images with something like notepad and see if there's a copyright message at the top. If there is, find something else to use.

    upload_2014-2-13_11-56-41.png

    Now, in this case Handmade Software may just be the editing tool used on the photo, or it may be the IP owner. You need to check it out.
     
    sarahk, Feb 12, 2014 IP
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  5. AFGSummit

    AFGSummit Active Member

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    #5
    Wow, that really helps. Thank you very much! Should I still source the images on the bottom if it isn't copyright?

    EDIT: Just checked all my photos and I seem to be good :)
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2014
    AFGSummit, Feb 12, 2014 IP
  6. wrekoniz3

    wrekoniz3 Well-Known Member

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    #6
    Just a quick note of advice also remember its illegal in the US to make money or have any means of financial gains on copyrighted content or material. Meaning if you don't own the rights for content or have written approval to use it, it will be difficult to monetize traffic as well.
     
    wrekoniz3, Mar 31, 2014 IP
  7. AFGSummit

    AFGSummit Active Member

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    #7
    Do you mean like if your website has any copyrighted material on it? Or do you mean like selling to get special privileges to get this copyrighted material. Also, does fair use apply to anything? Example, you write a blog/ new article on something, and you want a "relevant" picture. Would that be fair use since it's a form of news?
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2014
    AFGSummit, Mar 31, 2014 IP
  8. jrbiz

    jrbiz Acclaimed Member

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    #8
    I recently contributed some information to a reporter that quoted me in her online/offline syndicated column. She encouraged me to link to her article from my relevant website but cautioned me about putting too much of the actual text from the article on my website (I believe that she said something like a couple of lines only) because if I put more (even with attribution and a link to the original source) I would be infringing on the news outlet's copyright. I suspect that they were worried more about duplicate content vis-a-vis the search engines, but am not sure.
     
    jrbiz, Apr 9, 2014 IP
  9. wrekoniz3

    wrekoniz3 Well-Known Member

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    #9
    No because Fair Use only applies to non-profit. So if your use of the content results in financial gain - then its in violation of Fair Use. So if your site is a content based site, and you need content to drive traffic, and you put ads on your site, their is a direct correlation.
     
    wrekoniz3, Apr 16, 2014 IP
  10. browntwn

    browntwn Illustrious Member

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    #10
    This is factually and legally untrue. News organizations are usually for-profit enterprises and are well within their rights to avail themselves of the fair use exception to copyright law.
     
    browntwn, Apr 16, 2014 IP
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  11. Agent000

    Agent000 Prominent Member

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    #11
    That is million miles away from being true.
     
    Agent000, Apr 16, 2014 IP
  12. phptechie

    phptechie Well-Known Member

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    #12
    Yes you can use copyrightes images / photos / contents on your website , but first you need to get prior approval from the respective owners.
    Also you need to add credit lines at the end of the page about the information on the registered owners of the copyrighted images / content.
    Please do include /link the SOURCE of the content wherever necessary to avoid any legal issues.
     
    phptechie, Apr 17, 2014 IP
  13. jobsbywork

    jobsbywork Active Member

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    #13
    Give proper credit and URL from where you are coping those stuff,It will surely work in any country just give credit to source that all.
     
    jobsbywork, Apr 17, 2014 IP
  14. Agent000

    Agent000 Prominent Member

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    #14
    really bad advice; that does NOT protect you from the copyright.
     
    Agent000, Apr 17, 2014 IP
  15. jobsbywork

    jobsbywork Active Member

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    #15
    Why so?
     
    jobsbywork, Apr 17, 2014 IP
  16. Agent000

    Agent000 Prominent Member

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    #16
    Because what you are suggesting does NOT protect you from a copyright claim!!!! Talk to a copyright lawyer before posting bad legal advice and misleading people in forums.
     
    Agent000, Apr 17, 2014 IP
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  17. jobsbywork

    jobsbywork Active Member

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    #17
    Apart from this what you will suggest kindly help me as well ..If we are using some one content ,taking their permission and giving them proper credit than what we need to do else
     
    jobsbywork, Apr 17, 2014 IP
  18. wrekoniz3

    wrekoniz3 Well-Known Member

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    #18
    I take the L - lol its really a technicality which allows for fair use to be enacted as far as how the content is actually being used. In most cases - such as blog content being directly syndicated from a source - is not considered fair use. So its illegal. If you are following Fair Use to the T - you should be fine.
     
    wrekoniz3, Apr 17, 2014 IP
  19. jobsbywork

    jobsbywork Active Member

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    #19
    jobsbywork, Apr 17, 2014 IP
  20. Rpwallace

    Rpwallace Peon

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    #20
    There is an element of common sense around fair use - if you are writing a blog post about, say, GTA, then it is fair to extract a pic of the game case and use it. The maker is hardly going to complain about that anyway, unless the review is scathing. But grabbing some individual photographer's image off their site and using it in a different context altogether is problematic.
     
    Rpwallace, Apr 22, 2014 IP