Do copyright laws apply to text describing ads?

[CrazyDe1]

So it could probably be considered illegal to link to someone's picture directly as that picture belongs to them. But what if you copy some of their text but the font is different? Does the description apply for copyright laws?

 

[amdskip]

I think you are still treading thin ice there.

 

[mugs]

Still a copyright violation. Whether they would care is a different story.

Edit: How long is the text you want to copy? Short phrases are not copyrighted, they have to be trademarked.

 

[CrazyDe1]

It doesn't fall under freedom of speech or freedom of press or anything?

I copied a paragraph. The reason why I'm asking is I recently obtained a whole lot of high end stereo equipment and was selling it on ebay and was told that the company that manufacture's this equipment really doesn't like people selling their stuff on the internet. In fact, authorized dealers have to sign contracts saying they won't sell on the internet. I'm under no such contract though. I figured I'd cover all my bases and not copy any of their stuff if text was also a violation of copyright laws since I don't want htem to have any reason to come after me. What determines a description from specs? What if the font and size is different? I'm definitely not using their pictures.

In fact, people have gone as far as to call up the company to make sure the stuff is legit and the company has been telling them that the merchandise was most likely stolen.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: CrazyDe1
It doesn't fall under freedom of speech or freedom of press or anything?

of course not. do you have any idea what fredom of speech and freedom of press guarantee?

 

[Joker81]

I own the copyright to the alphabet. You all owe me $1 per letter.

 

[CrazyDe1]

Originally posted by: Joker81
I own the copyright to the alphabet. You all owe me $1 per letter.

Right...this is why it doesn't make sense and why it seems like descriptions shouldn't be copyrightable. A whole book, yes but descriptions could include specs and all sorts of things. I mean, what if I changed the orders of 2 sentences?

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: Joker81
I own the copyright to the alphabet. You all owe me $1 per letter.

I own the copywright on zeros and ones. Each letter you sent was made up of 7 ones and zeros. Please send me $7 per letter.

 

[SackOfAllTrades]

Originally posted by: CrazyDe1

Originally posted by: Joker81
I own the copyright to the alphabet. You all owe me $1 per letter.

Right...this is why it doesn't make sense and why it seems like descriptions shouldn't be copyrightable. A whole book, yes but descriptions could include specs and all sorts of things. I mean, what if I changed the orders of 2 sentences?

I don't know much about law, but I've studied enough of it to know if you think you can get away with it with no effort, you can't. So much precedent and case law out there that covers alot of bases.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: CrazyDe1

Originally posted by: Joker81
I own the copyright to the alphabet. You all owe me $1 per letter.

Right...this is why it doesn't make sense and why it seems like descriptions shouldn't be copyrightable. A whole book, yes but descriptions could include specs and all sorts of things. I mean, what if I changed the orders of 2 sentences?

I'd stick to just listing specs and not using any of their ad copy.

 

[Joker81]

Oh crap I just realized that SCO owes me 3 dollars. Time to sue.

 

sounds like MTX Audio