Am I violating a copyright law?

Question

I want to post a photocopied article to my blog. Is it alright or am I violating any copyright laws? How about posting an article in blogs and yet indicating the book where it came from, were I don't know who's the author because it is only photocopied and handed to me?

Answer 1

Firstly you can track down the article, by typing the name or a quote from the article into google.

Copyright is an old law, which has some modern updates. To deal with this article properly you have the right to quote from it, but certainly not use the whole article.

However if the article is an academic article and your posting of it on your blog will make a minimal (let's say no) financial impact on the original publisher then your copyright violation 1. would be worth suing over 2. Possibly actually not even be something you could sue over, because you have to sue for damages in a civil court.

However we are moving into a new era of publishing. Where we "mash-up" our sources. We have been doing this for 1000s of years, however technology allows us to copy the sources directly. I would say do it, unless your blog has millions of readers no-one will care that you copied this article and if you have millions of readers then using the article will promote this book and make the authors more money.

Answer 2

It's only a copyright violation if you post the article and attribute it to yourself.

Just indicate the book it came from, and offer a link (like if it's available on amazon, or written up in wikipedia).

Internet rules (and certainly blog rules) are totally different regarding copyright issues. You don't have to contact the author, and you don't really have to give him/her credit. However, giving the person credit is the right thing to do.

Authors love it when you site or mention their work, as long as you aren't trying to sell it or pass it off as your own. Hope that helps.

Answer 3

You have to contact the publisher of the article and get permission to post it. If permission is granted you have to cite the source. Without permission from the publisher it is a violation of copyright law.

Answer 4

A violation is when you copy to sell for your own gain. If you share the information with a freinds or associates it is not a violation of the laws.You can cite parts of books and tell where it came from as long as you are not infringing with the intent to sell . which will cause damages to the owner in the loss of profits. Nor intennd to claim the work as your own.