I am creating a DIY site for a specific niche and was thinking it would be a great resource to use some of the forum posts that people have done regarding this niche. I would definitely contact the person who created it and ask them to use it, but past that, is there any copyright rule to abide by? I looked for information on the forum site but couldn't even find a TOS. Any ideas?
You need express permission to use anything that isn't yours. Depending on the other sites tos, they might not even have the rights to grant you permission to use something someone else created (which has an automatic copyright).
as always, mjewel has summed it up nicely. Some sites require the member to assign copyright to them, in which case (without legal clarification) the rights would belong to the forum, so you'd need their permission. Some sites don't grab the copyright, so it resides with the original author, so you'd need THEIR permission. Note that the 'original author' may not actually be the person who posted it on the forum, of course.
While your idea seems a rather interesting one, as mentioned of course it is essential that you obtain permission first, it may be from the writer or the site itself.
Why not just write an original article like, "There was an interesting conversation/idea/project on (a forum/forum name/a DIY forum) that I thought my readers would find interesting. In the thread..."? What would be the point of copying the original and intentionally posting duplicate content on your site?
I agree with mjewel and contentboss, however with one reservation. That part, is quality blogs. A good article over 5 years often is snitched by over 100 blogs. These is due far more often due to a Google search, than an article directory site. If posted with credits NO ONE needs my permission. To get technical, the article directory or forum may state, that your posting implies giving up the need to be contacted first for approval. Being involved in both, some close checking my reveal that. My most recent blog of the "main forum" bar, addresses this to some extent. Again despite others, I will always say ---- it is better to get your work noticed, otherwise it is not worth writing-----------
Thanks guys. Sounds like the best option is just to ask the author of the post to use their content. Even if the forum owns that particular post, they don't own the idea which can be modified in such a small way as to avoid any copyright conflict. Thanks for the input.
YMC has a very good idea that many already do anyway. Maybe that is your answer? But, MRCVenture, that's a question that cannot be answered with a definite 'yes" or "no." For example, how long is the post? If it is just a few short paragraphs and lines, like this post of mine, it cannot be protected. The US Copyright Office can go just so far. And heh what am I going to do, sue you? And the court wouldn't accept it anyway! I'm an author of two books, and after doing the proper research and talking to the US Copyright Office, I have used many of my sources from message boards and blogs. I really didn't have to do the research as I knew I could do it anway. I was just curious. Also, is the post an opinion or set in an argumentive discussion tone? That also will not be protected. It all depends on the posts, and I know you really are not getting a definitie answer here without me seeing the posts first, but I myself would not worry about any backlashes. But, like you are going to do anyway, it is always nice to let the poster know that you are using his post.
unless it's all your original idea then there's nothing wrong with lifting a content from a forum. but if it comes from a different person, then maybe you should ask permission or you should write your own opinion about it.