Understanding Online Copyright Law
by Erika Pitera
The Internet provides consumers and business owners with access to a wealth of information, images, videos and much more. In an age where sharing€¯ media over the Internet is widely practiced, it's important to know the truth about online copyright laws.
As Google and other search engines crack down on copyright infringement, more and more people are learning about copyright laws the hard way. Save yourself the hassle and learn the fundamentals. If you have any questions about the legality of your actions, consult an attorney or other legal advisor.
- Just because you can right-click on an image or file online, it doesn't mean you should save or copy the material and use it as you please. Contact the site owner or administrator to ask permission first.
- You might think that giving proper credit to the material's source is sufficient, but it's not. You still need to ask an author's permission to repost his or her work on your own site.
- It's not acceptable to link to graphics or images on someone else's site to have them display on yours. You still need to ask permission, plus it isn't fair to use their bandwidth and other resources.
- Paying someone to create graphics or content for your site does not necessarily give you sole copyright ownership of the material. Unless your agreement specifically states that their rights are transferred to you upon payment, you only own an exclusive license to use the material.
- E-mail is subject to copyright law as well. You can't use private e-mails for any application without written consent from the author.
Summary
As soon as someone creates something, whether it is a written work, a photograph, a graphic, etc., the creator owns the copyright. Copyright ownership can only be transferred in a written legal agreement, signed by the creator and the new owner.
Understanding these basic principles of copyright law will help you avoid legal problems. In addition, abiding by online copyright laws will allow you to be a more courteous Internet user.