BLOGGING: Copyright Infringement

To check out lots of information on Copyright and Copyright Infringement visit www.copyright.gov.

For Blog Owners: I think for the most part there is an understanding amongst bloggers that cross-posting blog content, meaning if you read something on someone else's blog and you want to share it with readers on your blog, it's ok as long as you provide a link back to the original source. In fact allowing others to cross post your content is a good thing: It helps to give your blog more exposure.

For Blog Guests: The same rules apply when you leave a comment on a blog. Basically if you didn't write it but are posting what someone else has written? Your best bet is to credit the source you found the information on and add a link back to that information.

Here one of my Flirty Ideas was cross posted on Wedding.BlogDig.net the right way with a credit and a link back to The Flirty Guide.

Unless photos are listed as a "royalty free" technically you would need a release from the copyright owner to legally reproduce them.

If you copy a text source verbatim or want to use a photograph what has become common practice but is not necessarily legal is that you would need to both credit and link back to the original source. If you don't, you may open yourself up to a cease and desist letter or some other type of legal action landing in your email or mailbox if the original author finds out. Even with proper credit being given you may come across individuals who do not want their content reproduced for any reason. If it were me? I'd respect their wishes and simply not use it or if I'd already posted it, remove their content at once.

And quite frankly it sucks being put into the position of having to contact someone to say "Hey, I see you've copied my work. Please either credit me or stop." It sounds so accusatory but something you may one day have to do to protect your own interests.

If you are ever on the other end of things and see that someone has copied your work? You can assume the worst (that someone has stolen something from you) or you can assume goodwill and that the person who copied your work simply didn't realize that they were infringing on your copyright by doing so. When it happened to me? A simple letter asking the content be removed was all it took and I must say I was happy for it as I see no point in creating hard feelings or animosity between myself and any of my fellow professionals if I can possibly avoid it. This way we call all remain on the friendliest of terms when we happen to run into each other at future industry events. To me that's the best. When you reach out to someone hoping they will understand where you are coming from. And they do :o)

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