Image credits: istock Photo
Posting images to your blog is an important aspect to creating an attractive and dynamic site. But all too often bloggers’ grab images or written words from other sites and re-post them without proper attribution. While an in depth understanding of copyright law may be out of the realm of study for most of us (including Miss Apps), there are three basic tips you need to know if you publish a blog:
1) Not all words and images are copyrighted, but if you post one that is, and you do not obtain permission from the owner or properly cite the source, you could find yourself facing a lawsuit, or stirring up an amusing hornets nest in retaliation.
2) Creative Commons is a concept of information sharing gaining great popularity on the Internet. Taking a little time to read up on the basics would be well worth your while.
3) Fair Use is a copyright term open to wide interpretation under the law. The basic premise of Fair Use is that you may cite the work of another if you are using it to make a point of your own, and if you only use the minimum amount of the other persons work necessary to make said point. For example, comedy shows like SNL and Jon Stewart’s Daily Show frequently use images and video from the news to set up their jokes. The jokes are their original intellectual property, and the images are needed in order to make the joke work. Therefore, use of those pictures falls under the fair use doctrine.
Researchers use this technique too. Non-fiction books, magazine articles and scientific papers of all stripes commonly quote other works. When they do include a quote from another source, the original author is clearly cited by listing the name of the writer, the source publication and the date it was authored. Further, the quoted material is formatted clearly as a quote. Short quotes are put inside quote marks ” ” and are often italicized or set in bold type. Long quotes, or block quotes are indented or boxed to make them stand out as a separate thought. Book titles should be underlined, while Magazine articles are just italicized. Both can be set in bold type if you choose.
Often when going through the process of attribution, one simply needs to cite the original author. Sometimes, obtaining permission is required. If you want to use a graphic or written excerpt of something that has a copyright requiring such permissions, the process is not all that hard. Every time Miss Apps has ever tried it, permission was granted quickly. She simply sends a nice e-mail making her request, and providing a link to her work. Complements to the creator are always a plus when writing such requests. Most authors love recognition, and are more than willing to allow others to promote their content. They just want credit where credit is due, and when it comes to Fair Use, that’s what netiquette etiquette is all about.
P.S. All Applesass readers are more than welcome to re-post Miss Applesassy’s work to their own blogs without the formality of obtaining written permission, providing they practice good netiquette manners and proper citation.
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