Copyright question

[jimyoung]

I am planning sailing trip for November - December (6 to 8 weeks) around the South Florida loop with Miss B. (27' Compac) in which I am inviting my nephews and niece to join me. To give them an idea of what they can expect I am writing an extensive itinerary of the trip so they can decide what part of the trip they might want to join me and thought some of you might enjoy some light reading and offer comments and suggested anchorages along the way.  My dilemma is that I have "borrowed" a few pictures off the internet along the way and am not sure of any possible repercussions from posting them on the forum. I certainly do not plan for any monetary gain from this but could I get into trouble anyway?

If not, and if any one is intrested I will post for your perusal and comments. It's up to about 30 pages now and I am only to Key West.  I plan to compare it to the actual ships log once the trip is over.

Thanks in advance for any insight to this inquest.

Jim
Miss B. Haven

[Paul]

That's a good question.  If you are "barrowing" photos off the internet, you may want to contact that particular website with the same question.  Or, possibly, simply link your itinerary (if on the web) to their website for said photos.

You may be able to do this just as you do on this forum.  For more details on how, refer to the "Help" section at the top of this page.  Has great info on posting.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Paul

[multimedia_smith]

Hi Jim,

It's been years since the Media Law class I had to take in grad film school but here's my best "unqualified" shot.
For all my production and exhibit work, I get a release from the source and list a credit.  In the case of a film... it's at the end, in a museum exhibit, it's printed with the caption.  For music, I get a license for the specific useage.  But these are all what woulld be considered commercial use.  So in these cases it's not "better to ask forgiveness than permission".

For what you're talking about, it would seem to fall under "sharing the image with friends".  I'm not sure where you are sourcing the images from, but most protected images are accompanied with a statement that "prohibits the reproduction in any form... etc. "   By posting them on line, you are in a sense "publishing" them, however they would be hard pressed to show damages like reduced sales of the images otherwise.  If the images are of a commercial property (hotel/marina/restaurnt), they have paid the photographer a "buy out" and own the images for use in their own promotion... (which you are actually helping them with). 

The internet has initiated a lot of debate regarding copyright... for example, someone makes a clever video incorporating a Pop Hit and posts it on UTube... they are not making a profit from it, and it's not hurting record sales, but I believe UTube just made some concession to ASCAP and BMI regarding publishing... much like a radio station has logs and reports to them.

In your case... I still don't know definitively what to tell you.  You might try simply crediting the sources.  If you get into the muddy waters of "official permission"... you could be tied up beyond what it's worth to you...

I'd be interested in your trip regardless... sounds like great fun.  The idea of offering "segments" is a good one... I've found that passengers have less tolerance than skippers for the cruising experience.

Good Luck to you.

Dale

[mgoller]

A friend of mine once said, "if you don't want to hear the answer, don't ask the question."

There is no other answer than what you see above.  Had you not asked, then most probably you'd be fine until someone noticed, and for some remote reason, asked you to refrain from using the photo.  Most material on the internet is now pretty much fair game and public, unless it is locked up and not copyable with the mouse.

You'd have to be really flagrant and profiting something terrible before you'd get someone's attention and they took legal action.  Like a rap star knowingly using lines from a famous James Brown song to sell records.

Your intent isn't malicious.

Your trip sounds awesome.  Man, I'd love to be there instead of work.

[jimyoung]

Thanks guys for the input and advice. I have decided to post without pictures, and if anyone is impressed enough with the story to want the pictures I will be happy to e-mail .pdf files of the whole story.

The "South Florida Loop" itinerary and later ship's log will be posted in the "Articles" section on the forum.

Enjoy.

[Craig Weis]

As far as the 'COPYRIGHT' question is concerned....I feel that the invent of this internet business and the ability to reach every human on the face of the planet has just about made mute the question of any copyright since anybody can post anything with a certain amount of anonymity.

In short...
1~If you do not want the world to know it, do not post it.
2~The sheer volume of infractions makes procussion almost impossible. Unless a huge violator.
3~Copyright does not guarantee exclusivity.

Thats my take. skip.