Posting Copyrighted Articles - Everyone Read!

[loseyourname]

When posting a copyrighted article, only post the first paragraph, and be sure to put it in quotes. The rest must be linked to, not copied directly to this site. Not only does it eat up bandwidth, but it's illegal!

Here is an example:

Extreme drought and wildfire risks across the West are taking the kaboom out of some backyard Fourth of July celebrations, with communities restricting or banning the sale and use of fireworks.

Full Story

Use the title of the article as the title of the thread.

[dusken]

I just noticed this thread. It cannot possibly be illegal if you cite the source; that would not make sense.

[loseyourname]

http://www.tmsreprints.com/faq/index.html

Read through this. It details the procedure you must go through if you wish to reproduce an article from a Tribune Company newspaper in its entirety for any purpose other than personal use (including posting on a web site). You must pay a licensing fee to do so, otherwise you have violated copyright law. The procedure for other news companies is probably about the same.

[Sip]

I just noticed this thread. It cannot possibly be illegal if you cite the source; that would not make sense.

If you copy paste a large part of any text (as in not just a short quote with proper references), or even link to someone else's image without permission, it is illegal doesn't matter how many disclaimers and references you put.

The issue however is that no one in their right mind will go after someone posting some copyrighted article from somewhere on a public forum ... however if the forum systematically starts republishing NY Times articles, then there will be a problem.

[dusken]

I would understand it if it is a subscription service or seeks to make money from the articles, but other than that it still does not make sense. I can go to a library and read a book or periodical and quote it with no problem and without having to purchase a book and it would not even need to be public domain. I suppose a quote is not the whole article but where do you draw the line?

[loseyourname]

We're drawing the line at one paragraph. If you want to highlight certain things said in an article, but not necessarily the entire article, then you can quote multiple times (even if you end up with more than one paragraph) just so long as you do cite the source. The safest thing to do is to just provide a link. It's also the easiest thing to do.

[dusken]

Yes. Safe and easy. I am not much of an article poster. I am not complaining.

[gevo]

You guys are funny.. i thaught this thread was a joke.

As long as you disclaim the authority of the writing, and credit that who has written the material.. u are in no way infringing on the copright laws.. if you want more reading go HERE

and loser, dont EVER link us to a .com source for such things.. that is a discredit in itself.

[gevo]

I should add that if the writing is preceeded by a note from the author asking no copies to be made, or if any use then must be in total not in part of the material, then those right shall be granted.

[loseyourname]

This is from the US Copyright Office, which Gevo just linked to:

§ 106. Exclusive rights in copyrighted works36

Subject to sections 107 through 122, the owner of copyright under this title has the exclusive rights to do and to authorize any of the following:

(1) to reproduce the copyrighted work in copies or phonorecords;

(2) to prepare derivative works based upon the copyrighted work;

(3) to distribute copies or phonorecords of the copyrighted work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending;

(4) in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and motion pictures and other audiovisual works, to perform the copyrighted work publicly;

(5) in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works, including the individual images of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, to display the copyrighted work publicly; and

(6) in the case of sound recordings, to perform the copyrighted work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission.

Notice the bold print. Only the copyright owner, and in some cases, the author, has the right to display a copyrighted work publicly. This web site is public.

§ 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use38

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include —

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;

(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;

(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and

(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.

Note the exceptions to the rule. This site is non-profit and articles are generally posted here for either criticism, comment, or reporting. However, it is important to note provision number 2 of article 107, the nature of the copyrighted work. When posting an article from a newspaper, consult that newspaper's own policy, even if from a dot-com source.

Don't forget that there are two factors at play here - legality and bandwidth. You do not pay for the web hosting here. Please respect the person that does and post no more than one paragraph and a link when reporting a news article. That is the policy. End of story.