Copywrite issues on the internet

[wolf63]

I want to write a book - something along the lines of 1000 crazy stories from the internet.

If I take the information from forums (like this one) is there any copywrite issues?

Am I free to take the information/stories etc and print them?

Have I to say where I got my information?

I want to write this book mainly to keep me occupied and will probably only break even.

[Buenchico]

I hold the copyright in the answer I'm posting as I type right now. If you copy and paste it elsewhere (even if you acknowledge the source), you're breaching my copyright. Even if you simply print out this answer for your own use, you're technically breaching my copyright. (No, I'm going to sue you; I'm just trying to make my point clear!).

The creator of any work holds the copyright in respect of that work unless
(a) they're creating that work in the course in their employment (in which case the employer holds the copyright) ; or
(b) they assign the copyright to someone else. (e.g. the Answerbank could make it a condition of using this site that all contributors assign the copyright in their posts to AB).

Copyright in any work exists automatically. There's no need for anyone to write 'this work is copyright' or put a � mark alongside it. Every post on the internet is automatically copyrighted by the person making that post.

So (theoretically at least), if you take '1000 crazy stories' from the internet, you'll require the permission of all 1000 originators of the original posts. In practice, many of the people posting would either not know about your reproduction of their posts or not be bothered about it. However, it's extremely unlikely that any publisher would accept your book, simply because their legal department would warn them about potential legal challenges regarding copyright.

Chris

[kempie]

As above with one amendment -

AnswerBank Terms of Use

7. If you make any posting or contribution to The AnswerBank you hereby assign by way of future assignment any copyright in your posting to AnswerBank and you also waive any moral right in such posting or contribution.

[ChuckFickens]

on this site the copyright on any post is held by the site, as outlined in section 7 of the T&C's anyone agreed to when they signed up

7. If you make any posting or contribution to The AnswerBank you hereby assign by way of future assignment any copyright in your posting to AnswerBank and you also waive any moral right in such posting or contribution.

but as Chris says, just because it's on the internet doesn't make it public domain. if the site didn't have the copyright the original writer holds it.

[ChuckFickens]

^^ knew I shouldn't have gone and got a drink mid way through typing my reply :)

[kempie]

Nah - a drink beats a prompt reply hands down.

[Twenty20]

I think AnswerBank may have a few problems with that if we all started posting text from copyrighted works in our answers. Just the same way that You Tube are involved with legal battles because people post copyright information there. The copyright doesnt automatically pass to AnswerBank just because something is posted here. It really depends what exactly youre posting - whether its your own copyright or someone elses.

[kempie]

AnswerBank already make it another Term of Use of this site that:

9. You agree that any posting or contribution you make to such forums will not be.. in breach of any copyright..."

The copyright assigned to them is that initially held by the poster, not of any third party which, by the rules, should not be included within your posts. If a third party copyright holder was to object to any post on AB breaching their copyright it is most likely that AB would remove the offending post.

[wolf63]

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to reply to my post.

I will have to look elsewhere for 'material' for my book.

I will toddle off back to A&N.

Thanks. :-(