Questions tagged [copyright]
For questions about the property right inherent in a creative work. Please see the tag wiki and FAQ before asking the question.
2,318
questions
-2
votes
0answers
36 views
Can I store and serve images from another website/use screenshots?
A certain news website provides an image (updated each day) of the front page of their newspaper. There is no archive of this and once it is a new day, the image is replaced with the new front page.
...
0
votes
1answer
68 views
Can one download the original Hebrew bible text from websites that say "all rights reserved"?
For example, there's a website that has the entire hebrew bible text online [and I assume the original hebrew letters [without translation] is public domain [correct me if I'm wrong]] but the website ...
3
votes
1answer
130 views
If you create something by following a YouTube tutorial, who owns it?
There are many videos on YouTube that teach you how to program. If you search "HTML/JavaScript/Python/[insert any programming language here] tutorial" you will find them. Some of these ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
If commercial use is not mentioned in a software license like BSD, is it implied to freely do so?
BSD talks mostly about redistribution and doesn't even mention commercial use or something like "for any purpose". Therefore they don't need to explicitly state "commercial use is ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Can I prohibit scraping of forum user posts on my website?
If I host a web forum, can I list in my terms of service that all users acknowledge I own their posts and no-one else can scrape them from my website? I.e. even though I just host the website, and all ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
Can I remake Xenogears as a passion project? [duplicate]
So in 1998, japanese game developer Squaresoft released the JRPG title Xenogears.
The game was very rough around the edges but gathered a cult following of fans that keep it kicking even to these days,...
0
votes
1answer
47 views
Why does the open source license BSD-Clause 2/3 not have something like "to deal in the Software without restriction?
Every article that I've read about BSD-Clause 2 and 3 pretty much said that the licensed software is free of restrictions/any purpose as long as you follow what the licenses say, but the actual ...
-1
votes
0answers
56 views
Am I allowed to photocopy a book by a someone that has copied questions from past paper exams? [closed]
There is a teacher that sells a book that contains exam questions he didn't come up with. Can I photocopy the book?
1
vote
1answer
28 views
Trademarking Public Domain Material
I have a question about a public domain self-help book that has lapsed copyrights in the USA and has been in the public domain for a few decades.
The organization is still in operation and they ...
0
votes
2answers
41 views
How short do my audio samples have to be to respect copyright?
The specific use case I'm interested in involves build a database of audio samples for a musical algorithm (e.g., detection of genre or mood) with the intention of later distribution of the database.
...
-1
votes
1answer
78 views
Copying Definitions from Wikipedia to a Crossword game
i have a crossword android mobile game that is published on playstore. it's monetized by ads.
because this is a crossword game, i need a lot of words and it's definition. Currently it has 300+ level. ...
0
votes
1answer
55 views
Using software api documentation without copyright infringement
I've been starting to worry about the details of software copyright. This brought up the question whether using source code from an official documentation, that is copyrighted as usual, is actually ...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
Does forking a repository and modifying the contents violate CC BY-NC-ND 4.0?
I attempted to ask this question on the Github community forums, but it was flagged as spam and awaiting a review before being open again.
I recently picked up the hobby of creative writing in my ...
1
vote
3answers
68 views
How terms of service can avoid copyright infringement by users?
I saw this on the dribbble.com/terms:
Your Responsibilities: ... By making Content available, you represent and warrant that:
the downloading, copying and use of the Content will not infringe the ...
1
vote
2answers
78 views
Copyright infringement on contents posted by website users
Someone has a website like YouTube, so registered users can post any videos. A user posted a video that is a copyright infringement. Can the copyright owner sue the website owner for this?
I have read ...
1
vote
1answer
60 views
Copyright infringement on my own designs
Can someone steal my website design and then after creating her/his own website sue me for copyright infringement?
I have such a assumptions because of this:
While it is easier to take action against ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
can I make a simplified version of another existing web app?
I want to produce a much simpler web app inspired by a more complex web app, with some additional features of my own. The original web app was inspired by a process in general knowledge.
From this ...
2
votes
1answer
45 views
Do I need to keep paper copyright registration certificates?
Every time I register a copyright with the US Copyright Office, they eventually send me a fancy "Certificate of Registration" printed on heavy, patterned stock. I scan it and then file it ...
-1
votes
0answers
39 views
Gameplay screenshots copyright [duplicate]
Suppose Alice, who is doing an app presentation,
wants to include a gameplay screenshot/game icon to showcase the ideas and improvements (for example, higher resolution) from another game company.
Can ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Can I impose the requirement of a paid license if and only if my software is offered as a service?
I'm getting ready to open source a project that facilitates the deployment, maintenance, and orchestration of data platforms on just about any architecture (locally, on any cloud of your choosing, on ...
1
vote
0answers
27 views
Does a training firm need to pay copyright fees for adapting original English content for educational & training purpose(for profit)
Suppose that there is an English language training provider P based in China. P would like to create in-house training material for P's students. The established practice of both Chinese College ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
How can I make a sculpture substantially different?
A customer showed me an unremarkable angel figurine she had commissioned. Now that I've seen it, is it possible for me to make her another angel that is not derivative?
Two people in the shop did not ...
-1
votes
0answers
24 views
Is it possible to cache synthesized speech in microsoft's text-to-speech service? [duplicate]
I am working on a project where there is a high probability that some voices will be repeated, and I would like to minimize the number of calls made to the Microsoft API. However, I can't find ...
0
votes
0answers
35 views
Do I own the copyright of a source code if I work only part of it as a freelancer
If a group of freelancers work on a project without a contract from the client(this one refuses to pay), who own the copyright of that source code? I know in the US, one who write the code own the ...
19
votes
5answers
7k views
Can satellite images be copyrighted?
OpenStreetMap doesn't allow editors to trace satellite imagery from Google, claiming that the imagery is copyrighted and tracing it would be a copyright violation.
But how can satellite images be ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Is it "fair use" to summarize a movie?
Could I take about, say, 15 minutes of clips from a movie to use as a visual (and perhaps using some audio) along with my originally written and voiced movie summary? Would the resulting work be ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Is there any case law on whether unreleased "derivative work" falls under the research exemption to Copyright law?
17 USC 106(2)
to prepare derivative works based upon the copyrighted work;
reserves the right to prepare "derivative works" to the authors of the original work. The original authors, of ...
18
votes
5answers
3k views
Can one claim copyright over a compilation of (public) data?
Let's say I build some sort of index, like my own selection of websites for a particular niche of the internet.
I publish this as "Almosnow's Best Selection of Nature Websites" (for instance)...
0
votes
1answer
106 views
Where to look for copyrighted names?
We (me and my team) are working on a (software) project and are trying to pick a name
for the group/team.
We have settled on "Watchdogs" (due to the project's nature). However, there is some ...
4
votes
2answers
270 views
Is "cheating" in offline, single-player games illegal?
I understand there are laws like the Circumvention of Technological Measure (CTM), Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). According to these laws it's considered ...
0
votes
1answer
66 views
YouTube Upload Copyright
On YouTube, there are two licenses to choose from, Creative Commons license and Standard YouTube license. Suppose that a composer A wants to post A's music videos on YouTube, but wants to license my ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Can a corporation or other entity that is not a natural person be the legal "author" of a work for copyright pourposes
Copyright term is now determined in most cases by who is the "author" of a work, even if the copyright is promptly sold or transferred to another. So-called "moral rights" (or non-...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Is it legal to allow users to store pdfs of books in my website where they only can see them
I'm thinking of creating a website where the user can create an account and upload his ebooks (pdf format) and read it from the site from wherever device his logged in to and I'm wondering is it legal ...
-4
votes
2answers
74 views
Is there any copyright or other legal issues with copying a website content and show it on another domain?
I found a website with good and rich content that is generated by its users. It's a kind of professional social media that people write long content.
The website is too old, and it's usually not easy ...
1
vote
1answer
69 views
Is CBS Radio Mystery Theater in the Public Domain in the US?
The Internet Archive says it is but that's just something a user wrote. I can't find any information on this elsewhere.
0
votes
1answer
55 views
If a copyrighted image is used multiple times, how many infringements are there?
If I used a copyrighted image in 4 item listings on a selling platform (all using the same image), would this constitute 1 infringement, 4 infringements, or a number of infringements equal to the ...
2
votes
1answer
72 views
Copyrights for Popular Fairy Tales
I am building an app for children which has some popular fairy tales in it, like, the little red riding hood, Goldilocks, the ugly duckling etc. The stories will be in our own words and we are ...
3
votes
1answer
57 views
Publishing (non-commercially) a video-interview with a celebrity online, without written consent
Suppose that several years ago a non-profit organization made a short video-interview with one of the most famous US performers, who very rarely gives interviews.
Suppose that it was recorded in ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Hardware principles / designs - can some be copyrighted or they are patented only?
I generally understand the difference of copyright and patent, however, as software programs are copyrighted, I began to doubt that all hardware specifics are patent protected only. I'm particularly ...
0
votes
0answers
46 views
Creating a new Rest API that allow to download contents from publicly accessible website
Let say I am planning to create a new Rest API web service
Which allows to download contents from a given URL
End user can provide a URL and set which item they like to download, it could be images, ...
0
votes
0answers
41 views
Use MIDI sys ex format from competing product
Suppose that Albert is developing a new music application that produces MIDI output for some hardware modules (LCD displays etc.) in system exclusive format. There is a competing music application ...
12
votes
3answers
3k views
Is copyright law international?
For example, if I buy a pirated copy of a North American book from a local market in Bangladesh, can the publisher sue me and the seller? I can attempt to buy original copies of the book; however, ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
what am i able to use for design work from bambi film?
I am looking for some advice?
I am doing disney inspired designs so more of a deconstructed version, but in the design I am looking to use some butterflies, birds and squirrel which has been seen in ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Alteration license
Suppose that a designer, John, is making a 3D animation. The models that he found online, have licenses that prohibit alteration. What does that mean? Can john animate it or is it better if he just ...
0
votes
1answer
116 views
Can I make furniture from a video game and sell it?
The video game is not centered around these furniture items, however i have made some of the items from said game and would like to sell them. everything i make is purely my measurements as there is ...
0
votes
3answers
77 views
How do I know if my idea violates any existing copyrights or patents?
I have an idea for a product that shares many characteristics with existing products, but that will have a few differences. I want to make sure there's going to be enough of a difference between my ...
1
vote
1answer
78 views
Am I subject to my own license's NonCommercial clause?
I am creating a fictional world to be the setting of my RPG campaigns, and using a wiki website to store my content.
Being on the internet, I figured I might want to apply a license to my work to ...
2
votes
1answer
937 views
What would the copyright laws probably say about these 3 similar pieces of music? [closed]
Hopefully, someone with some knowledge or background in copyright and music can provide me with some insight for this question.
The following 3 short pieces of music seem to share a similar tune (or, ...
1
vote
0answers
32 views
Can I display a Rotten Tomatoes/IMDB score on my movie website under fair use?
I created a website which lists movies playing in cinemas in a geographical area.
For each movie, I would like to show the IMDB/Rotten Tomatoes scores.
I would not use their graphics, logos, labels (...
1
vote
3answers
101 views
Is it copyright infringement to take pictures of textbooks for personal use?
To save on textbooks in college, I intend to borrow someone else's and take pictures of the pages, and then read the pictures. However I do not intend to at any point publish the pictures, and would ...