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Copyright on Comments? Another ethical question.

by DianaHeuser
12 replies
I have been reading a lot of very useful threads lately and last night the thought occured to me that I could compile a very useful book out of those threads.

Is it allowed?
Would I have to ask the commentator's permission to use their answers even though I intend to credit them and not pass off the information as my own?

What do you think?
#comments #copyright #ethical #question
  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Diana, it's been done before. I'm not sure if there are rules about it, but the guy I know that did it got permission from each person whose comment he wanted to include. Seems to me that would be expected.
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    Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    I had a similar discussion with Paul Myers on this topic.

    Even though the information is posted in a public forum, the person who wrote the comment has a legal copyright claim on what was written.

    Most will not mind, but some may find your use of their words problematic.

    My advice: get permission before reprinting in ALL cases.

    ...Unless you don't mind getting sued by a few people...
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    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author Vimal Gobin
    Hi Diana

    Don't copy and paste. Instead, take the IDEAS and express them the way you view it in your own words.

    "Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed."

    - U.S. Copyright Office - What Does Copyright Protect? (FAQ)
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post

    I have been reading a lot of very useful threads lately and last night the thought occured to me that I could compile a very useful book out of those threads.

    Is it allowed?
    No; it decidedly isn't allowed to compile a book out of text/information of which you're not the copyright owner!

    Last year, I found several of the lengthier posts I'd made in this very forum reproduced almost in their entirety on someone's website (I'm not talking just about "occasional quotations" or references to "Lexy said this, or that"). I was absolutely horrified at the breach of copyright involved and I took immediate action (the entire website in question was taken offline within 12 hours, and I decided on that occasion not to go to the time and potential cost of taking the matter any further).

    I appreciate that you're asking about a book rather than about a website, but the principle is surely exactly the same?

    You're not the copyright owner, so this would simply be theft.

    Apologies for wording this reply so bluntly, Diana, but the question really surprises me.

    What on Earth makes people imagine that they might have the right to do this sort of thing?!

    This isn't just an "ethical" question: it's a "legal" and a "moral" one, too, and the answers seem to me (though I'm not a lawyer) to be absolutely clear-cut.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      What on Earth makes people imagine that they might have the right to do this sort of thing?!

      This isn't just an "ethical" question: it's a "legal" and a "moral" one, too, and the answers seem to me (though I'm not a lawyer) to be absolutely clear-cut.
      Alexa, were questions about copyright law that clear cut when you first started out? :confused:

      Diana, if you read the terms of service for this site, you see that posters give Allen Says (owner of this forum) a pretty broad license to do pretty much anything he wants with content posted here.

      That license does not extend to members of the forum. Nor does it transfer copyright to the forum or its owner.

      So the answer to your question is yes, there is copyright on comments and you do need permission to use them. Fortunately, in most cases all you have to do is ask.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Please accept my apology, Diana ... my post was far too strongly worded. Looking back at it, it gives me that "Eew, did I really express it quite like that?" feeling. Please excuse me.

        It's a "sore point" to me, because I've had some of my own writing published without my permission, and it's very tiresome indeed: I'm afraid I probably allowed my residual anger from those episodes to spill over into my post and responded inappropriately - so sorry!

        Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

        Alexa, were questions about copyright law that clear cut when you first started out? :confused:
        Well ...

        To be honest, I think I knew that I didn't own any rights to what I hadn't written, John. But the tone of your kind reply to Diana was unquestionably far more appropriate than mine. Apologies all round.
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    • Profile picture of the author DianaHeuser
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      No; it decidedly isn't allowed to compile a book out of text/information of which you're not the copyright owner!

      Apologies for wording this reply so bluntly, Diana, but the question really surprises me.

      What on Earth makes people imagine that they might have the right to do this sort of thing?!
      I appreciate the reply Alexa, but the mere fact that I asked the question indicates that I did not automatically think I had the right to do this sort of thing. You may also notice that I stated that I was going to reference my sources and not just pass off the information as my own so there was no indication that I would be 'stealing' the information.

      If I don't ask the questions, how will I ever learn?
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  • Profile picture of the author thekaver
    id just ask them anyway to be safe! if you going to give them credit im sure they will all says yes
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  • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
    Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post

    I have been reading a lot of very useful threads lately and last night the thought occured to me that I could compile a very useful book out of those threads.

    Is it allowed?
    No.

    Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post

    Would I have to ask the commentator's permission to use their answers even though I intend to credit them and not pass off the information as my own?
    Yes.


    .....
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      For forums, the rights of the forum owner to use content posted on HIS site is usually addressed somewhere in the TOS.

      The person who posts owns the copyright - but the owner may have rights, too. That doesn't mean anyone who likes a post can use it without permission (whether they attribute it or not).

      Ask permission of the person who posted. I've found most here are gracious about allowing their words to be used.

      kay
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      Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
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      • Profile picture of the author thehermitvi
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        For forums, the rights of the forum owner to use content posted on HIS site is usually addressed somewhere in the TOS.

        The person who posts owns the copyright - but the owner may have rights, too. That doesn't mean anyone who likes a post can use it without permission (whether they attribute it or not).

        Ask permission of the person who posted. I've found most here are gracious about allowing their words to be used.

        kay
        A perfect example of this is FaceBook supposedly owns the copyright to everything posted on FaceBook. I am not a lawyer and I don't know if this is enforceable but they do state the in their TOS.
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