I just got off the phone with Lenn Harley, one of our ActiveRain resident members and experts on the topic of Copyright, and I am excited to tell you, she'll be joining us, (The AR Staff) ";Live"; this Thursday on Rain Radio. Lenn has even contacted her attorney, Paul Thaler, ESQ. from International Square in Washington DC to join us. We'll have as many answers as we can, to as many of the questions you may have. Copyright, plagiarism, cut and paste emails, screen captures, jokes, recipes, clip-art, logos, cartoon photos, and anything else you can possibly think of. This is a rare, one time shot to get your questions answered by an Attorney, and an expert who knows the laws, and your rights.
Have Your Computer Read The Rest...
I hope all of our members will participate by either listening in, or calling in to learn and discuss this really important topic. We are trying to clean up the community and at the same time, help protect our members and friends. After an extensive conversation with Lenn just the other day, I can't begin to tell you how important this is to us all. Lenn made it a point to contact Paul to clarify a few questions we both had regarding email, screen shots, and photos, I was shocked by some of the copyright laws. You might be too. We'll be sharing this information with anyone who is interested. It's important to know how this can, and will affect you now, and in the future. I know for a few members, it already has.
The AR RAIN RADIO Broadcast is this Thursday, November 13th, at 11:00am PDT. It's a one hour Talk-Show, and it will cover everything you ever wanted to know about the Copyright Laws, violations, and the repercussions of what happens if or when you get caught. You can either use the "Live" chat, you can phone in and ask questions, or you can just listen in as we breakdown these COPYRIGHT LAWS into bite size and understandable pieces. What questions are most important to YOU, I'd love to share them on the air? If you have to miss this broadcast, I'll try and post the show here after, as I'm sure we'll be referring many here in the future.
";In 2000, Mr. Thaler successfully litigated a case of first impression in the Commonwealth of Virginia concerning the ownership of an Internet domain name."; This was Lenn's case. Thank you Lenn and Paul for doing this for us, and for helping out the ActiveRain Community and the On-Line Internet World. I'm Looking forward to a fantastic hour with you both, and finally bringing some clarity to this very hot topic. We're honored that you would both take the time out of your busy day to share this hour with us. Thanks.
EDITED and UPDATED 11/13/08 Recorded From Today's Broadcast
If you missed today's show, and want answers to some of these questions, just click play on the image below. I want to thank Lenn Harley and Paul Thaler for their time today, and for sharing their wealth of information and knowledge with us all.
Here's some of the questions we covered today:
Can I cut and Paste Jokes, Recipes, Cartoons etc?
Can I use Youtube’s embed codes on my site? Are Links ok?
What’s required to protect my Blog, My emails, My photos, and my originally authored content?
How do you know when someone has violated YOUR copyrights?
How do you track it?
Here'sanswers to these questions and others that were addressed today on our broadcast. I hope you'll find this information useful and valuable. The benefits of knowing this stuff about copyright laws will help keep our network and community protected, and help keep YOU out of court and settlements.
Copyright Laws and You - Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:46:04 -0600Download MP3(2557 KB)
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155 Comments on Copyright Laws and You - Here's All You'll EVER Need To Know
NOV
11
2008
Hi Brad! If anyone knows copyright laws, it's Lenn! Sounds like a great learning opportunity and I do hope that I can join in. One of my questions would be about the use of SnagIt shots that are used to display on our blogs. Not exactly a 'screen shot' but, similar nonetheless.
You got is Debe, I'm building up my show notes now, and will be including many comments and questions from this post. Lenn's attorney Paul, has been doing this for many years now, and has been working with Lenn since the 90's, and has plenty of experience. It will be a great broadcast for sure.
Janet, glad you can join us, you won't be disappointed, I promise. Not sure why your photos are off, shoot me an email with a screen shot so I can try and help. Thanks. :-))
Hopefully this will attract a huge crowd because many of us need to understand what it all means. Abuse of copyright can be costly in many different ways.
This is great news Brad. Readers can also reference to our post on Copyright and Fair Use which goes a bit more in depth specifically for those in real estate.
I appreciate all the help I can get regarding copyright rules and regs--I have no time to go to court, and I don't want to lose my hard-earned points either!
I'm very glad to see the AR Team bring an attorney into the conversation. There is a lot of misinformation in other Rainer's posts and comments that, while it may be well meaning, only adds to the confusion. We are not lawyers, we are real estate agents.
Brad - this should be great. Lenn is so knledgebale in this area, and having an attorney to boot should make it rock. Thanks for letting us in on the news. Gonna be there on the headset.
Brad - Great idea. I've been seeing more and more questions about copyright issues here and elsewhere, so I can tell its something really beginning to sink into agent's minds. I don't remember which blog it was, but there was even a recent comment I left about a teacher at an board sponsored event teaching us to just go and grab whatever we wanted from the internet (in terms of photos). Her and I wound up having a discussion about it and she was amazed at some of the info I gave her...things she never thought of. I'm going to try and make the show to check it all out!
This sounds like a great event -- but will it be available after wards for viewing as well - as we can't be avail at the listed time to watch. Hope is will be available later as well.
KEWL! I know that this is going to be a GREAT show...full of information. I'll do my best to make it.
Did you miss me in Florida? MAN...I was reading all the posts and checking out all the pics. It looked like you guys were having a blast. Good to have you home, though. I made everyone behave while you were gone. :-) GBU~
Brad.. there is no better time to be a first time listener to AR Radio. There for a min, I thought Lenn was the newest memner to the AR team... I had to read again.
Brad- this will be great! Are you taking questions ahead of time? (Phone lines may be overloaded for this you know!)
If so, I've just thought of something after reading your blog as far as screen shots.
If you subscribe to a service (say MLS or a Market Statistic Report) and they have monthly graphs, can you take a screen shot of them to use on a blog, and then give explanations in our own words?
Great topic and if Lenn's involved, I know it's going to be "right". I'm in a class on Thursday so I hope you can post it for those of us who can't listen "live".
Brad, You guys do so darn much for us and we really appreciate it! My question would be about Snag It also...(along with Debe). I hope I get to tune in!
You could not have a better guest. Not only is she educated on the subject she is highly passionate about the subject. Excellent pick and I hope I can be there. Here.
I just wonder how the Google "Book Search" settlement will affect this. The laws haven't changed, but with what Google just pulled, the laws will change. That's how attorney's work. They use previous cases to win future cases.
Brad - So happy that you are doing this, oh and you too Lenn.. lol Thank you especially for doing this. Can't wait to hear the all time expert on this speak her mind. Hope I can get a question in. Bob H
Brad- This is a great topic, much misunderstood and I am sure that all of us at one time or another has inadvertently violated copyright laws in some form or another. I am going to be requesting permission to snag webcaptures from now on after our conversation at NAR. So here it goes, Brad- May I have permission to snap capture screen shots of Active Rain's userface in order to write posts to help the Active Rain community? :)
All the pictures is this Group are to be Licensed under the Creative Commons License, which is new to me.....so here's my questions:
1) What does a web person, or blogger, or anyone that uses a Photo from the Group (with a CC license the Attribution one) need to put on their blog with the photo. If I use a photo from Tami on my blog, what is the legal way to give attribution?
2) Which CC license is appropriate if we give permission for Web but not print usage?
3) Are quotes from people OK to use just with the Authors name? EX: Quotes by famous people?
4) Can we use videos found on U tube? I used a Sheriff John Video of His "Put another Candle on my Birthday Cake" or what about the Disney ones?
I cannot think of a more needed topic. One that we tip toe around, might I say dangerously, each day. Probably more than, even the cautious ones, like to think.
I know we discussed this a bit at the party so as I said...Lenn knows quite a bit about this. Shes an expert and will give valuable info out that will help others.
This will be great. One question that recently came up here on AR is whether or not you are allowed to use SnagIt to copy images from Google Earth - to use as MLS photos or on our websites. The usage restrictions from Google Earth are confusing - we each read them slightly differently, as to whether or not they are allowing us to use these images.
One thing I was told at the NAR convention by the guys in the Google Booth is that you can use all of their maps etc. in posting for listings as long as you leave the Google info at the bottom!
Brad - this is good stuff. ... have you ever considered maybe having a calendar posted on the main AR page, or on each members own page for when members are logged in? A little calendar with either hyperlinked numbers or the kind that you scroll over and the little window pops up with more info ... I wouldn't have known about the AR radio stuff unless I read your post.
Q-" I read somewhere that you have to give the url, the persons name and then write something about it not being altered." this was a comment to me on the CC Lic. Do we need to do this when using someones photo? What exact words are needed or can we just use the logo & direct them to the site=
Q- If we ust the cc lic logo and name of Photographer is that enough?
Kathy - I'll add your questions rather than give my advice right now, but there is a correct answer for them both. Hope you'll join us to get these answered.
Remember - If you do decide to call in as oppossed to just listening on the website, I will be taking callers so be prepared to go "Live" with us and participate with questions and dialogue. I will announce your area code as I have no other way of telling who is on the line with us. This is going to be an educational and very informative broadcast, I'm glad to see soooo many of you will be joining us. Thanks. :-)
Lisa - I will try and add the broadcast podcast to this post after the show, hopefully you can make it back at some point to take a listen. You won't want to miss the information being presented, I promise. :-)
Brenda - that would be a great question to call in and ask Lenn. Paul (her attorney) will also be able to shed some light on the topic. I'm compiling a list of questions to be asked along with other topics we'll want to cover. I'll try and make sure we get this answered for you.
BTW - Lenn commented above with the Link you requested regarding that case.
Linda - I am taking questions ahead of time, feel free to post them here if you like. We already have a decent list, but I'd like to try and get ALL questions answered on this show. Ask Away!! :-)
Brad. Brenda has asked me the information about my maps by mail and I have answered. The process by which I make my maps is not open to discussion. Fact is, they are mine. Folks seem to have an idea that "maps can't be copyrighted". Not so. Or, that the only way they can be made is by copying something of public domain. Not so. I have software with which I create about 75% of the finished map and, at this time, my granddaughter is finishing them.
The process is a trade secret. That said, any graphic artist can make maps such as mine.
In fact, Cindy Jones has made some very beautiful maps. Of course, I have a map fetish.
If you have copyright issues, questions, concerns, comments, ideas, and you want them addressed "Live" on the air, then here's all you need to do:
< POST ALL YOUR QUESTIONS HERE >
I'll make sure they get added to the programming list. We have quite a few already, but I don't want to leave any question unanswered. This is a rare opportunity to have Lenn and her Attorney (Paul) with us live, and I want to take full advantage of it.
Brad, so many of my Q's have already been asked. I'll take my answers off the air! Like others, I stumbled upon this post. It seems like a good idea to somehow notify members of upcoming AR events... THX.
Brad, Thanks for making this available and how generous of Lenn and Paul to share their hard earned information.
There is only a slight possibility that I can attend and really hoping that you can pull this off:" If you have to miss this broadcast, I'll try and post the show here after, as I'm sure we'll be referring many here in the future."
BRAD: GREAT show today...TOO much fun actually! I'm sorry that Jeremy and I were misbehavin' so much. That little chat box thingy was just too much temptation for us. I am not sure how you stayed on track watching us. I did come in just a few minutes late, so I want to go back and catch the first part. I don't want to miss anything. Thanks and GBU~
I have updated and re-featured this post for those who may have missed it. We all need to know this stuff to protect ourselves and ActiveRain. I hope this helps clear up some of those grey areas regarding copyright. :)
Kathy - thanks, and thanks for calling in too, glad you could be part of this. :-)
If anyone you come across has questions about this stuff, feel free to send them here, I'd rather see our members get educated by this post, then just get turned in by another member. Let's help get the word out there, make it viral. Maybe even a link in your (draft) post if you're feeling generous with some ActiveBrad link love! LOL~ Thanks. :-)
Brad, Wonderful way to share information! You, Lenn and Paul are to be complimented for giving so generously of your time so everyone could benefit. You give good RADIO.
Brad, btw in regards to the chatbox i do believe it's in public domain based on research i did on this very subject a couple years ago. The owner of the chatbox cannot gain copyright on the text that's produced in those chatboxes but he can copyright his software.
Donna - are you kidding me? You're right on time. You may have missed it "LIVE" but you won't miss what was said and covered. I hope you'll click on "Play" and take a listen. Enjoy. :-)
Victor - I was more wondering if the actual chat was copyright protected by the chatter. I wouldn't want to copyright their chat, but can they? Can you cut, copy, paste and post chat?? hahaha I Didn't want to leave any possible questions unanswered on this post! LOL
(It was more my dry sense of humor than anything else.)Public Domain is a good thing!! Thanks for listening and for your feedback, it's always appreciated. :-)
Wow, fabulous information. Maybe every new member should have to listen to this before being allowed to post. I will never forget the night that I stripped my blog of all imagechef photos and vowed never to use a photo that I didn't personally shoot or pay for a license to use again!
I just wish youtube would clarify reuse via embed, for now I only use mine because I really don't want one of those letters to show up in my mailbox!
BRAD: Know what I'm thinking? Jeremy, Elaine and I can be the live entertainment...sorta like the clowns at the rodeo. We'll be cute and all...but we'll really be there to keep the bulls from getting outta control. NOW...I know that opens a whole can of worms...cuz then you gotta define who the 'bulls' are. AND...that could be touchy. Of course, we ain't got no bulls here at ActiveRain...only kind, warm and friendly folks. ::THINKING I BETTER START USING PROPER GRAMMAR::
It was a TON OF FUN! Anyone who missed the live show...trust me...you wanna be there live next time. It is off the charts informative...but we had a blast learning. KNOW WHAT, Brad? The time absolutely flew. I couldn't believe when you said the time was finished. Thanks for putting that show together. You guys are always looking out for us. :-) GBU~
Hi Brad! Thanks for the show and thanks for the mention! I have just finished listening to the show and am going to use the clip art and photos that I purchase and my photos only from now on! I will use SnagIt for demonstrations/tutorials and that's it!
Thanks so much for the show and thanks to Lenn too! She is one smart cookie!
I wrote in the chat box that people can pay for a single user license (ie a broker cannot pay for all agents with one fee) at clipart.com. You can use it for commerical use. Obviously it is not free since you are paying for a license to use the art, but I think it is the most reasonable of the places out there.
Sorry to yell at you in the chat room, Brad. I plan to use to blog profile pics in a blog and didn't want to get a visit from Harlan. I needed an answer!
Great show today, Brad. I was able to phone in at the office (First Realty)...you really had it packed with valuable info on all the copywriting ins and outs... and it was wonderful to hear Lenn Harley, too.
Brad - Fabulous show today full to great information. Thanks for providing the recording for anyone that may not have had the opportunity to listen in today. I tried to get in on the fun in the chat box but never received an email after I registered so I could join in. :-(
Brad, Lenn,Paul and Rich thank you for a very informative discussion. I am glad that I am one who uses by digital camera all the time. Now I will have to go through my postings to make sure I am in compliance, better safe than sorry.
It was also nice hearing Lenn's voice for the first time.
Brad, you can copy the chat text but you'd have to quote it at that point with the user's name. Since chat text is usually so short it's usually not going to be a copyright issue. What is interesting however is a situation in which a famous celebrity is caught having a conversation on one of those chat boxes and then someone takes the entire convo, which i'm sure they view as private, and then pastes that conversation in a tabloid publication and writes a negative news story about it. It comes back down to how they use the copied information. Whenever you use it to taunt, or hurt someone in a way that it slanders, degrades, objectifies or skews the opinion of that person by the greater masses to the extent that they end up losing face, their job or their physical well being, then damages can be awarded and as lenn's lawyers mentioned yesterday, that has to be proven for monitary damages to be made against the party that infringed copyright. This is definetely an interesting conversation and i have a feeling it's going to continue so long as copyright laws are so vague.
Victor - that extends beyond the copyright laws. They don't need to copy chat into a tabloid for this to happen. It all goes back to "If it ain't yours, don't use it!" Hopefully after hearing this broadcast, or recorded podcast, it won't be so vague for our members anymore. Lenn and Paul did a great job of making it very clear in my opinion. :-)
Elizabeth - you, Jeremy and Elaine can run the chat arena on all our shows if you like, you guys kept that portion of the show 'alive and cookin.' I could use a few fun moderators to handle the chat while I try to stay focused on running the radio show. As you guys were kickin around the concept of multi-tasking, I realized how hard it is to listen, chat, follow notes, run the web, take callers, and write ideas down. Guess I'm still learning to multi-task myself. haha
You are welcome to come "run" the RAIN chat anytime you like. You were all quite entertaining and fun. :-))
I am sorry I missed the show today. I do hope the information on the series will be archived for reference in the future.
Derenda - I hope you'll take the time to read the second half of this post. After the part that says:
EDITED and UPDATED 11/13/08 Recorded From Today's Broadcast
The entire recording of the broadcast was added to this post for those who missed it. This is the archive for future reference. If you click on "PLAY" in the box at the bottom of the post, you can hear the show in it's entirety. I hope you will, we don't want any member to ever say they didn't know, or weren't aware. Thanks.
I wrote in the chat box that people can pay for a single user license (ie a broker cannot pay for all agents with one fee) at clipart.com. You can use it for commerical use. Obviously it is not free since you are paying for a license to use the art, but I think it is the most reasonable of the places out there. Sorry to yell at you in the chat room, Brad. I plan to use to blog profile pics in a blog and didn't want to get a visit from Harlan. I needed an answer!
Melina - thanks for sharing that. I know there are a few sites and programs out there that "for a fee" you can use their clipart and photos commercially. It's totally worth it in my opinion. Regarding profile pictures on AR? I can't think of a single member who would be upset if you used their photo to write about them in a good way of course, but maybe don't use Harlens picture, or if you do, just get his permission. Might be a good idea to do that with any member. (I was kidding about the yelling part in the chat, I knew you needed that question answered, I just had my hands full there for a few) Thanks Melina. :-)
Okay...it's a date! I'll get with my posse and let them know that we are the unofficial, official RAIN chatbox gatekeepers/entertainers. I know they'll be up for the challenge. :-) Have a beautiful and blessed day!
Woohoo Brad you want me to moderate more stuff for ya? Suhweet! I do enjoy the chat box. I think though next time you should bring me on live to the show from time to time to bring in some of the questions from the chat room. That way you can focus to listening to the guest and the list of pre-questions you have. Maybe like every 7-10 minutes just say, lets see what is going on in the chat room and I could fill everyone on the phone in on what is happening. Just an idea.
Hi Brad- I was swamped yesterday after the Broadcast trying to finish my Creative Commons Group Post, and then going into the Group to get people to remember to0 change the Copyright Symbol LOL :) Anyway, I finally got back to this and saw about the Link Love.....so of course the dutiful member that I am...I edited my Post today to include this one ....Link Love Brad....link love :) Are we reciprocating the Link .......LOL :)
Rich - I'll do a post on that for you, it will be my next Blog post ok? Some of my readers have already commented on that too. It's better than a BIG font in some cases. LOL~
Jeremy - I'm going to take you up on that. Having you guys run the chat and pipe in the important questions would be huge for me, and yes, allow me to focus on the show and our guests. Seriously, thanks for offering to help out there, I just can't afford a RAIN Radio staff just yet....yet being the key word! We're still new on the Talk-Show scene, but with programs like this one, we may start making the top charts. :-)
Tom - I hope everyone who finds this post will listen to the show. It's going to benefit them as much as it will the entire community. Thanks for taking a listen Tom, glad you found it to be informative. :-)
Hello Brad: I was wondering is there someway to get on a Text Blast when you have shows like this coming up? or at min..maybe an Email about shows like this...I know you have educational items come up, what seems to be often...but, I seem to be missing them. I love the fact that you added the show in this blog...as I am going to look into this right now.
I am just thinking about the future. Just an idea. maybe you already have this and I just do not know where to signup. I have not implemented RSS feeds in my business yet. I would love a text message!
Thank you for all your hard work and helping us be the best we can be!
Moriah - you can click on the RAIN Radio Button just under my photo up in the right hand corner. When you get to the site, there is an option to setup reminders for upcoming shows. You can subscribe there and also listen to any previously recorded broadcasts, just like this one. Hope that helps, thanks for your interest. :-)
Brad, this is a great blog. It's packed with lots of valuable information and resources. Since I'd like to be able to refer back to this information in the future, I just bookmarked the page.
Brad, I've subscribed to your blogs today. They are the greatest. Thanks for all your time you provide to the AR community. I want to add you as an associate. How do I do this? thanks
Rebecca - you'll need to login to ActiveRain first. Then go to my profile, and click on the "Add Associate" above my photo. You can do this with any member, but you will need to be logged into AR first. :-)
Thanks for the great advice. I will check back often. I really like the blog. I am new at blogging but I am beginning to learn quite a bit from reading blogs like the ones I find on Active Rain. If I can ever be of help just visit my blog or my website: http://yournowwhat.com
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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Hi Brad! If anyone knows copyright laws, it's Lenn! Sounds like a great learning opportunity and I do hope that I can join in. One of my questions would be about the use of SnagIt shots that are used to display on our blogs. Not exactly a 'screen shot' but, similar nonetheless.
Thanks!