Posted: 10/17/2004 8:39:00 PM EDT
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I am starting a conservative newspaper on my campus, was wondering what the rules were for copy/paste pics off the internet. Is it ok to do that without permission as long as there is no copyright label on it? As I understand it, it is ok to print pics that have been taken in a public place, like pictures of billboards. I have picked up quite a few pro military pics off this site, was wondering if it is ok to print them. We are a non-profit, registered school orginization. TIA, legal eagles. |
| As I recall, copyright attaches upon creation. The notice is evidence of copyright, not a sine qua non for a copyright claim. Be careful. Only swipe from individuals who are likely to be flattered by the attention. Better advice: find a conservative Intellectual Property lawyer in your town who'll give you a free half-hour tutorial. It can be dangerous business. |
Thanks. What about the pro-military pics that I have picked up off this site, used in pro-military articles? Basically if I print something without permission and the original owner wants to sue me, they can? |
| Once again, Fair use. The most you would ever get would be a cease and decist letter from someone claiming copyright. Next option for them if you don't stop would be for them to file a court injunction. It would never get past a cease and decist letter but you still should be protected by fair use since it is scholastic and not for profit. |
Thanks bro. Found it: http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/copypol2.htm#test |
| It is true that a copyright attaches upon creation, but a copyright also must be enforced by the owner or a representative of such copyright. Some pictures may be in the public domain. Some may not be. Also someone may take a picture that is in the public domain and publish it and put a copyright notice on it but they in reality own no claim to copyright. You might try browsing around the US copyright website www.copyright.gov/heck, it may prove me wrong. But when I was doing graphic design in college they told us any images we used for school projects were covered against copyright infringement under fair use. So I would assume an internal school publication would be covered also. |