Special offer

Copyright Law Day is January 1.

By
Home Stager

How it Relates to You and ActiveRain.


I’m not even going to attempt to discuss what constitutes copyright infringement, especially since I am not an attorney.  But if you are copyright law dayblogging here or anywhere else, then it would be in your best interest to acquaint yourself with the basics.

The best source here is Lenn Harley .

 

I’ve noticed two types of non-originally written-by-the-blogger posts on ActiveRain:

There are some bloggers who subscribe to posts that are written by someone else but from whom they have permission to use.  They have paid for these services and many use them for their newsletters.

 

That is all well and good but if you post them here, one risk you take is that members, when realizing that you are not the original author, may learn to move on and read original content by other members.

 

Our time is limited and precious so while we may pause to read about an interesting topic, don’t count on members to do that often.

 

Then there are the bloggers who merely copy and paste content from elsewhere with no concern for whose copyright toes they’re stepping on.

 

Again, members here are steely-eyed and trained to spot these.  Do this and not only will members do a quick drive by of your blog but you will also be reported to the PTB (Powers That Be.)

 

What the PTB choose to do is beyond my pay grade. (BTW...I do not get paid, therefore it is way above my pay grade.)

 

Of course, this is said with the assumption that those who fall into the above categories care.  And, perhaps you don’t.  However, if you care about the relationships that are built here, then you might.

 

The icing on the cake that is ActiveRain is the community and the relationships that are built.  Just like in the real world, cyber-relationships don’t just pop up overnight.  They come from getting to know others by their words and deeds.

 

Words written by someone else don’t allow us to get to know you.

And in practical terms (your pocketbook) referrals from agents and others here are born from their knowledge of who you are.

 

So, celebrate the day however you choose but if you have a few minutes, head to what Lenn Harley wrote on it.  

 

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

In Person Consultations in Texas
for Houston & Harris Counties
and
Virtual Staging Consultations
for all states


Follow My Blog for Practical, Creative,
Easy-to-Do Styling Solutions
Whether You're Selling
or Want to Fall Back in Love
With Your Home
 

561-914-6224
Call or Text

Email Me

About Me
My Blog
   Facebook
Instagram

 

Comments (36)

Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Lenn definitely made it her business to know the ins and outs of copyright. 

Dec 29, 2016 10:34 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Featured in the group:  BARTENDER, MAKE IT A DOUBLE.

Dec 29, 2016 10:35 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Kathy - Len's posts are a great source for anyone who cares to do it right. I sure miss her.

Dec 29, 2016 11:28 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Kathy

Copyright infringement can become a problem for bloggers. When we're posting someones material. If you error . . . . error on the side safety before you post it.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Dec 29, 2016 11:35 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Thank you Peter Mohylsky 

I doubt they will but it would be nice Donald Urschalitz 

Good to know James Dray 

Dec 29, 2016 12:10 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Joe Pryor I'd forgotten about that site!

Nina Hollander and you also post your own work too!!!

Thank you Wayne Martin I'm mainly tired of wasting my time on some of these. 

Dec 29, 2016 12:18 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Thank you John Wiley hope you're ready for a very Happy New Year.

Hi Barbara Todaro I miss Lenn's posts here and after a bit, it does become easy to pick out the copy and pastes. 

Scott Godzyk it also is not a good reflection of our community. 

Dec 29, 2016 12:32 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Absolutely Sheila Anderson 

I wish I could "shout" Lenn Harley back here. 

Sheri Sperry - MCNE® I can't believe it either.

Dec 29, 2016 12:37 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Lottie Kendall hope that the new bloggers read this. 

I so agree Ron and Alexandra Seigel 

Patricia Feager so do I.  She is te copyright authority here. 

Dec 29, 2016 12:38 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Same here William Feela 

Hi Chris Ann Cleland And thank you for the highlight in your group. 

Dick Greenberg get in line!!!  Wish she were here. 

Dec 29, 2016 12:40 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

So true Lou Ludwig 

Dec 29, 2016 12:41 PM
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

There is a whole lot of copying going around all over the Internet Katy. Great post, I only wish the right people would read it.

Dec 29, 2016 03:08 PM
Mark Loewenberg
KW of the Palm Beaches - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
KW 561-214-0370

bingo.. folks should use their words and their words along ( I think I read about that on the internet)

Dec 29, 2016 04:57 PM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Kathy, Lenn is definitely the expert on copyright. Happy New Year.

Dec 29, 2016 08:18 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Well you know how I feel about this subject and to what extreme I've gone to guarantee my posts are completely "legal". 

It's not easy, but the consequences otherwise are pretty serious!

Dec 30, 2016 09:10 AM
MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Sharing your own unique voice and words is the best way to blog.

Dec 31, 2016 08:27 PM
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

Even more common is the unauthorized use of photographs or clip art. Too many people Google search for an image and use something they find without ever gaining permission.

Dec 31, 2016 10:18 PM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Kathy a good reminder of what copyright means and how it can affect each of us as we blog. Thank you.

Jan 01, 2017 04:52 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

I see this all the time too, Kathy Streib - agents use articles from newsletters they subscribe to - the entire thing too!  Just write your own - as you said, your own writing shows us who YOU are, not someone else on your blog.

Jan 01, 2017 06:34 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

The legend of copy-right policing lives on...The subject also demands respect too

Jan 01, 2017 07:23 AM