Today you've probably downloaded an image from the internet for a presentation, posted a comment on your blog about an article you've just read, or uploaded a video clip of a concert you saw onto a video sharing website. You may not realise it, but you may have just broken the law.
Copyright laws protect literary, dramatic, musical and artistic work, and these works, unless stated otherwise, cannot be used without the creator's permission. Websites and personal blogs belong to the public domain, so what you put up for public viewing is subject to copyright law.
Laws protecting intellectual property differ from country to country, so it's up to you to ensure you're not breaking any local rules. Here are some tips to keep you on the right side of the law:
When using information from websites, especially news and resource websites, check if the site states that you can use its material. If not, contact the website owner or publisher for permission to reprint the information.
While facts per se are not protected by copyright law, the expression of facts – the combination of words used – is. Use your own words when describing factual material and ensure there is no substantial reproduction.
Don't upload videos of TV shows, movie trailers, commercials, music videos and videos of live concerts you recorded on your mobile phone onto video sharing sites like YouTube. You will be infringing the copyright law even if you credit the owner or are sharing the material non-commercially.
Your local intellectual property office can offer more specific information on how to legally use information.
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