Don't post copyrighted images/material here

[paulcalloway]

I want to make this very clear to our userbase - if an image or a book is under copyright, we can not scan said images or said pages from a book and post them online. By doing so we're setting ourselves up for a major fall... and most likely it'd be me doing the falling because my name is all over this place.

I saw an example today of someone posting an entire page from a copyrighted book on another forum and I hope none of our users will see it and take it as carte-blanche permission to do the same here.

Mind the copyrights please.

[ScottMcKay]

Furthermore...

To underscore the seriousness of Paul's above post, if ever I spot a poster commit the above infraction, I will BAN THEM ON SIGHT!

[Corn]

Re: Don't post copyrighted images/material here

Just for clarification, can someone post a copyrighted photo image if full credit is given to whomever holds the copyright, the book it came out of, publisher, etc.?... much like that used with a research bibliography.

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Don't post copyrighted images/material here

You would need more than a credit: you would need to have secured written permission from the copyright holder to scan and post the item, and would need to comply with whatever credit and/or royalty fees they set.

Better to simply refer everyone to the exact book/publisher/page, and describe the image thoroughly in words. That has the added benefit of getting people into a library on occasion, and out of relying on the internet for all their research needs.

As another section of the moderating team, I feel just as strongly about this as Scott.

[paulcalloway]

Re: Don't post copyrighted images/material here

One example of this was recently someone posted an image that they had lifted from Larry Stevens' website at http://www.ohiocivilwar.com/ of the 105th Ohio, "Soldiers Three." I quickly deleted the photo. While Mr. Stevens doesn't hold a copyright on the original image, he does hold rights to the image which he scanned, manipulated and has posted on his 105th Ohio page. Mr. Stevens would be quick to use legal action against me to have the photo removed.

Please don't put me in that position.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Don't post copyrighted images/material here

Is there any way to know what is copyrighted or not? Some of my resource materials are 19th century publications and I dont know if they are still copyrighted. In alot of cases like the Soldiers three image they have been published in several places or passed on to me by other people, and the point of origin has been lost. Now Im freaked out. :confused_

[paulcalloway]

Re: Don't post copyrighted images/material here

Well, don't let yourself be freaked out, Robert. It's best to track down to whatever extent is possible, the copyright information on any particular source. When in doubt, I suggest firing off an email to moderators@authentic-campaigner.com and we'll help you sort through it.

If an object, image or work is brought into question it's always best to immediately remove the offending piece and work through the details. Don't add insult to injury by being obstinate and defensive when someone raises the issue of copyright infringement. Be courteous and respectful.

As someone who has done some research on various topics, I don't mind when it is distributed with proper accreditation but the first time I see someone making a profit off my work, or putting their own name on it, I know I'm going to be bothered.

I'm sure others will weigh in on this as well.

[BHoover]

Re: Don't post copyrighted images/material here

I agree that's is best to err on the side of caution, but it should be pointed out that there are "fair use" criteria which allow some uses of copyright materials.

For examples of how this works in real life, you can Google for it.

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Don't post copyrighted images/material here

Robert, there are some simple rules of thumb you can use:

If you're sharing/scanning from an original document you own, there's a good chance it is fully public domain, and you can do so. In fact, the scanned/cleaned image you publish falls under your own copyright.

Not so with things from reprinted books: while you could return to the original items and clean those up, you wouldn't want to do that with things from a modern reprint or facsimile copy, as the publisher holds new rights to that work.

And, if you are working from items in a private or museum collection, you'll want to have permission to make/share patterns, take photos, distribute photos, etc... as they have rights to restrict the use of their collected items.

Most folks are happy to be asked if you can use their work... it can be as simple as writing the publisher or researcher, and asking permission to use it in X manner (be specific as possible).

With the proliferation of things available on-line, there's been a sad perception that if it's on-line, it's perfectly fine to copy/share/use/sell, because 'the internet is free'. We just need to make the distinction and really look at what is fair use, what is protected, etc.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Don't post copyrighted images/material here

What about including period photos from someone's eBay listing? I tried to check eBay's guidelines and their search engine kept giving me rules on selling copyrighted items, not on reusing scans from listings. :( I know that some sellers specifically state that the images can't be reused without permission, but what's the default if they don't specify? Is it a similar situation to this? "While Mr. Stevens doesn't hold a copyright on the original image, he does hold rights to the image which he scanned, manipulated and has posted..."

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[JimKindred]

Re: Don't post copyrighted images/material here

Hank,

I had the opposite problem with Ebay sellers, they were robbing photos from my website to sell their goods and those goods weren't even purchased from me. I have since marked all with a Military Warehouse copywrite to hopefully prevent or at least slow it down.

[paulcalloway]

Re: Don't post copyrighted images/material here

One needs to claim the copyright in order for it to be fully in effect. Thus "All rights reserved" means the author is reserving his copyright rights. Ebay images and content, if not marked specifically "All Rights Reserved" don't enjoy the same protection.

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Don't post copyrighted images/material here

Paul, I'm not a lawyer, but when I read the information at http://www.copyright.gov it sounds to me that it is no longer necessary for a person to use the copyright symbol, all rights reserved notice on written information, and all the US copyright stuff still applies.

I can't believe I'm asking this: Is there a lawyer in the house?

LOL

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Don't post copyrighted images/material here

I geuss I was under the wrong asumption that since we were not selling any of these items and using them for educational purposes that it did not fall under any copyright laws.

What about quoting a memoir, the ORs, or a drill manual?

[paulcalloway]

Re: Don't post copyrighted images/material here

Robert, any work published prior to 1923 is firmly in the public domain which means memoirs, ORs and drill manuals are pretty much open season. Nonetheless, we do ask for proper citations.

I understand the normal duration of a copyright to be the life of the author plus 70 years.