copying a newspaper article and putting it on my website

edprush

Platinum Member
Sep 18, 2000
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Is it illegal to copy the text from a newspaper article and put it in my website?


 

blackllotus

Golden Member
May 30, 2005
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Almost certainly. See if the publisher posts the articles on a website. Then you can link to them.
 

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
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You'll have to at least put a link or something to give an indication of who actually wrote the material.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,693
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If it's copyrighted, then you'll need written permission from the owner to use it. TECHNICALLY, you need written permission from the owner even it it's NOT copyrighted, but it's not enforced as much...
 

edprush

Platinum Member
Sep 18, 2000
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Still illegal if I give credit to the author and publication the article if from?
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
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Originally posted by: BoomerD
If it's copyrighted, then you'll need written permission from the owner to use it. TECHNICALLY, you need written permission from the owner even it it's NOT copyrighted, but it's not enforced as much...

Nowadays anything is copyrighted as soon as it is written, whether a copyright notice is included or not. Registering the copyright can help in court, but it is not necessary.





Yes, copying an article in its entirity is still illegal even if credit is given. Copying excerpts is not, as long as the excerpts are limited to what is necessary.
 

edprush

Platinum Member
Sep 18, 2000
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I have seen a number of AP (Associated Press) articles copied word for word and posted in threads on this site. So that's against the law?

 

akshatp

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 1999
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Originally posted by: edprush
I have seen a number of AP (Associated Press) articles copied word for word and posted in threads on this site. So that's against the law?

Good point
 

edprush

Platinum Member
Sep 18, 2000
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Not so cut-and-dry, huh?

I have a forum.

I want to post a newpaper article so members can comment about it.

I also don't want to get sued.

 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,693
14,093
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http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html

One of the rights accorded to the owner of copyright is the right to reproduce or to authorize others to reproduce the work in copies or phonorecords. This right is subject to certain limitations found in sections 107 through 118 of the Copyright Act (title 17, U. S. Code). One of the more important limitations is the doctrine of ?fair use.? Although fair use was not mentioned in the previous copyright law, the doctrine has developed through a substantial number of court decisions over the years. This doctrine has been codified in section 107 of the copyright law.

Section 107 contains a list of the various purposes for which the reproduction of a particular work may be considered ?fair,? such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Section 107 also sets out four factors to be considered in determining whether or not a particular use is fair:

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

the nature of the copyrighted work;

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

the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.
The distinction between ?fair use? and infringement may be unclear and not easily defined. There is no specific number of words, lines, or notes that may safely be taken without permission. Acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material does not substitute for obtaining permission.

The 1961 Report of the Register of Copyrights on the General Revision of the U.S. Copyright Law cites examples of activities that courts have regarded as fair use: ?quotation of excerpts in a review or criticism for purposes of illustration or comment; quotation of short passages in a scholarly or technical work, for illustration or clarification of the author's observations; use in a parody of some of the content of the work parodied; summary of an address or article, with brief quotations, in a news report; reproduction by a library of a portion of a work to replace part of a damaged copy; reproduction by a teacher or student of a small part of a work to illustrate a lesson; reproduction of a work in legislative or judicial proceedings or reports; incidental and fortuitous reproduction, in a newsreel or broadcast, of a work located in the scene of an event being reported.?

Copyright protects the particular way an author has expressed himself; it does not extend to any ideas, systems, or factual information conveyed in the work.

The safest course is always to get permission from the copyright owner before using copyrighted material. The Copyright Office cannot give this permission.

When it is impracticable to obtain permission, use of copyrighted material should be avoided unless the doctrine of ?fair use? would clearly apply to the situation. The Copyright Office can neither determine if a certain use may be considered ?fair? nor advise on possible copyright violations. If there is any doubt, it is advisable to consult an attorney.

FL-102, Revised July 2006
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
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Originally posted by: edprush
I have seen a number of AP (Associated Press) articles copied word for word and posted in threads on this site. So that's against the law?

Yes.

But nobody really cares. ;)
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
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Originally posted by: edprush
Not so cut-and-dry, huh?

I have a forum.

I want to post a newpaper article so members can comment about it.

I also don't want to get sued.

Go ahead. Nobody is going to care.
 

edprush

Platinum Member
Sep 18, 2000
2,541
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I'll make it even tougher on ya....

Who's liable, on my forum, if one of the members posts a copy of a newspaper article?

 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
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Originally posted by: edprush
I'll make it even tougher on ya....

Who's liable, on my forum, if one of the members posts a copy of a newspaper article?

The user who posted it. The same law that protects ISPs from lawsuits over copyright infringement by their users also protects sites like YouTube from lawsuits over copyright infringement and forums as well. But if asked to remove it, you should remove it.
 

edprush

Platinum Member
Sep 18, 2000
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I thought that YouTube was the party getting sued for the copyrighted videos. It's interesting to know that they aren't liable.