What is the best way to make legally clear my copyright restrictions on use of m

1. 91

   Greensleeves Hubsposted 12 years ago

   What is the best way to make legally clear my copyright restrictions on use of my text or photos?
   
   I'd like to put a message in my hubs re-copyright. We all have different attitudes on copyright. My view is that I don't mind people quoting a few sentences from my hubs in their work, and I don't mind people using my photos (indeed it's flattering), but I wouldn't want to be heavily plagiarised and I would expect a viable link/acknowledgement back to my pages. I wonder is there an unambiguous format of words to ensure all loopholes are covered? Is there a site which offers good examples of clear, legal notices which can be used so anyone wishing to use my work knows exactly where they stand?

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2. 82

   ComfortBposted 12 years ago

   You can create a text template highlighting all the Do's and Don'ts (as it relates to your hubs and photos) that can be posted on all of your hubs. Also, check out this site on Licensing and copyrights.
   
   http://creativecommons.org/choose/

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      Greensleeves Hubsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks ComfortB. I have started putting brief notes on some of my hubs (tho' probably too brief to cover all legal eventualities). Your link looks very interesting re creative commons and I will check that out and see if it's valid for me. Thanks.

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      ComfortBposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks! I'm honored.

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3. 0

   Casimiroposted 12 years ago

   It's not uncommon to find other hubbers who display their copyright policy, though I can't recall a name off-hand. Perhaps a search of the site will uncover one.

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   1. 91

      Greensleeves Hubsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think we can all learn from other hubs and web pages Casimiro, and I'm sure it is a good idea to check out how others phrase their views on copyright

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4. 91

   Elderberry Artsposted 12 years ago

   You could use creative commons licences for photos. I am not sure if it cover text as well though.

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      Greensleeves Hubsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think that's right re Creative Commons and photos. I wonder if the template provided in the link from ComfortB will prove useful? Not being a computer geek or a legal geek, I like the idea of a simple template to use for my copyright requirements!

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5. 79

   Diana Leeposted 12 years ago

   Perhaps you could add what your copyright views are to a photo in the caption box or add a totally separate text capsule explaining them for both text and photos.  I think just putting your name as the source for the photo reserves all rights and the content is copyrighted by HubPages trade mark at the bottom of each page. It clearly states all rights reserved to HubPages and the respective owners.  This is a concern to many and good question to post here.

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   1. 91

      Greensleeves Hubsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Diana. Good suggestions. Certainly the point about crediting your own photos may be a very good one, and something I haven't ever done. And reading the HubPages copyright note may be instructive for all who want to understand their rights too.

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6. 61

   thecatgalleryposted 12 years ago

   If you find out, please let me know. I've tried putting it into text all over the place. I've put my name and copyright symbol on the pictures, etc. But nothing works. If someone without a conscience or respect for your efforts in producing something they love and want, they will take it. People seem to think that anything on the internet if up for grabs. I've had so much art work stolen and used every place imaginable, without my permission and without acknowledging the source. People have even used it to create objects they then sold as their own. I even went to a copyright lawyer with a HUGE list of infringements with names and screen shots and dates as evidence. Unfortunately, he was too busy to take the case, and I've been too busy to follow through on it.....yet.

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      Greensleeves Hubsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for that. Sounds depressing, and very frustrating if they're even making money out of your work. There are ways to complain of infringements online (once they are detected) but how effective they are, I don't know. Good luck with your problem!

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7. 62

   justomposted 12 years ago

   I think it's very hard to control but as for photos if you just use low resolution versions and they will likely not be useable for much. My son vectors much of his art and there's some kind of framework that allows him to put his name right in the artwork and it can't be detected to the naked eye but with a click he can find out if it's his. It actually works with vectored photos too. Having said all that I'm not sure how to stop those that want your stuff, especially legally.  Good luck!!

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      thecatgalleryposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for your answer. I'm glad your son has found solutions that work for him. But putting an invisible watermark on a picture of mine still means that it can be taken and used by others without being seen. Frustrating.

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      Greensleeves Hubsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks justom. I understand thecatgallery's concerns, though the idea of an 'invisible watermark' may be useful to many who want the image to remain attractively unobscured, but who also want proof of ownership when necessary. Interesting suggestion.

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      thecatgalleryposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Oh, justom, the low resolution comment would work for some images for some purposes, but since I'm selling prints of my art, they really have to be a good resolution to be able to see the quality of the pictures. That makes them too good :-)

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      justomposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      thecatgallery, sure anything can be taken but if you find out you have legal recourse. A good person to find out from is Leo Notenboom AKA "Ask Leo", the guy does a free newsletter and is a guru on all computer related issues. He answers ?'s free.

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8. 91

   Greensleeves Hubsposted 12 years ago

   I should say what really motivated my question above. Another hubber had raised the issue of numerous articles on the Internet which had copied his hubs. The suggestion was put that we should check for copies of our hubs on the Internet and the following service was posted as just one tool for doing this:
   
   http://www.copyscape.com/
   
   Visiting here I entered the URL for one of my astronomy hubs and immediately found a website had indeed published three whole paragraphs of text from my hub! I didn't actually mind on this occasion because it was the website of a school astronomy hobby club in Malaysia (which seemed like a very worthwhile cause to me) and they did acknowledge my hub with a working link. As I say in my question, I don't mind some people copying my work as long as I also benefit through recognition and a link back to the hub, but the incident did make me realise how easily our work could be plagiarised or copied for financial gain or for other purposes without our consent, and possibly against our interests.
   
   Hence my desire to put some kind of note on all my hubs explaining what's acceptable to me and what isn't. Cheers for all your advice.

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