Internet Copyrights, Permission
and Ethics, Revisited

Volume V, Issue 12
ISSN: 1547-7754
May 2008
printable version

Chris King, Editor
By subscription only, this monthly e-newsletter is loaded with short, "down and dirty" tips to help you with solving the everchanging and growing puzzle of the Internet. This e-zine serves as a place to ask your questions and find the answers. So, send me your burning questions.

Important Note! To access the books in the Right Hand margin along with the featured links, click on the printable version and they will all become live links.

In this issue of the Internet Tips E-zine, I decided it was time for a quick re-investigation of copyrights, permission and ethics, in general. Originally, what prompted me to choose this topic was an e-mail I received from one of the subscribers to my other e-newsletter. The one in question, Portfolio Potpourri, is an eclectic, information focused publication, sent bi-weekly. My reader wrote to tell me that the issue I sent yesterday was used on another subscriber’s blog. She asked if I knew and if the blogger had my permission.

My answer was, “No, this was news to me.” I immediately visited the link and found an almost complete copy of my newsletter. The good news was that I was given full credit, and the poster also provided hot links to my website and how to sign up to subscribe. I was pleased with the way it was handled and left a comment thanking her. However, it would have been better and safer for her if she had asked before reprinting.

TIP #1. Information that appears on the Internet is not free for the taking. There is so much “free” information available today, surfers have taken it for granted that they can use anything they find on the web.

• Once an article, a graphic, and/or a photo appears in print, audio or a website, it is automatically copyrighted and the author owns it unless he or she has given permission or has signed the rights over to someone else.
• Many authors are happy to share their creations with others, but should always be asked for permission. I have a plethora of articles on my websites and have also submitted 214 articles to www.ezinearticles.com for others to use. This helps with getting the word out about what I do.
• One important caveat, however. Do not sign the total rights over to another person, group or publication. It is common with magazine writing to assign the first American rights to an article. I had been asked if a woman who was writing an encyclopedia on storytelling could reprint some of my articles. Once she had them ready, she sent me a contract where I was to sign off all rights to the articles. I told her, “No.”

TIP #2. The fine art of getting and/or giving permission. Make sure you ask, but also be generous in the giving.

• Not only must we get permission from those who are sent our e-newsletters and e-zines, we must be diligent about ways for them to opt-out when they want to. The majority of the top info-gurus are good in this respect, but there is one well-known motivator whose e-newsletter I have already unsubscribed to several times and yet, I am still receiving it. Robs her of credibility with me!
• In most cases, I feel that when someone takes the time and effort to e-mail me a request to use one of my articles, as long as they include a short bio and a link back to the website in question, I am delighted.
• I also receive a great deal of feedback from my e-newsletter. Even though some feel that if someone sends you feedback it may be used publicly without permission, I always ask for permission to use it - whether in a newsletter or as a testimonial on my website. Often the writer will choose to change a word or two. I have never had anyone say, “No.”
• If you have asked an author for permission to use his or her work and you don’t get a reply, realize that you don’t have permission to just go ahead and use it. Unfortunately, many authors are remiss about responding in a timely manner - or at all.

TIP #3. In my opinion, the good news is that the majority of people are ethical and want to do the “right thing.” Some of the ethical breaches are made because they don’t know better. The bad news is that there are a few unethical people among us. Watch out for some of the following:

• Those who copy others’ products and sell them - this is happening today on e-bay.
• Those offering pirated software - when the software companies discover you are using it, you are in bad trouble.
• People who change affiliate’s IDs to their own or just remove them from a link.
• Students who purchase ready-made term papers or just out-and-out plagiarize others’ work.

TIP #4. When in doubt about this huge topic, ask a lawyer. And always do the right thing. It sometimes takes more time, but is worthwhile.

Have a terrific and productive month!