Some Pic's from Platres.

[Dominic]

Hi Jim,

I've been asked to remove several images over the years. And some images have had lawyers attached.

In future though, if anybody thinks somebody else has posted a copyright image, could they PM me rather than publicly link to the source? All that does is draw the infringement of copyright to the attention of the copyright owner, possibly creating more hassle.

[Dominic]

Youtube automatically monetise copyright infringing vids. It is actually quite impressive how it works. A couple of years ago, I produced some youtube videos to complement our family easter egg hunt. The videos featured gameplay from a game called Fallout 4. Now on this game, there is a radio station that plays music from the forties and fifties, for reasons I won't go into here. When I uploaded the videos, youtube automatically detected that the background music was copyright protected, and channeled all advertising revenue to the copyright owner. Very smooth. And I hope they benefited from the 8 or so views the videos got.

But when you post a link to a youtube video, you are driving people to their site. If you were to copy the youtube video to your PC, then publish it on your own site, they would object.

You may also find this link interesting. It covers image copyright and how some lawyers earn their coin:
https://www.contentfac.com/copyright-in ... are-scary/

You may think that the internet is mostly open source, but that is because you haven't yet received a takedown notice or anything similar.

[cyprusmax47]

Back to the topic: I think it is very hard for members to compete with their own pics with professional ones from the web... Many times I am unsure to post one of my photos when I feel the quality could be better. (recently: my pics of the moon or macro photos which are perhaps out of focus...) So it is only fair not to use stuff from the Internet but also legal.

Max

[Dominic]

Posting pictures here isn't a competition. Ok, if I ran a picture competition then it would be, but other than that, any poster who has gone to the effort to snap something is welcome to post it without it being judged on it's quality.

[PaphosAL]

Crikey! The web images copyright link you posted above makes for some very scary reading, Dominic!

But what about the other example of internet theft? Those who plagiarize (copy 'n paste) large chunks of text from other sites, then post it as it if it was their own composition, without giving source credits?

Like walking across a minefield, ain't it?

Cheers- AL

[Lofos-5]

[...]But what about the other example of internet theft? Those who plagiarize (copy 'n paste) large chunks of text from other sites, then post it as it if it was their own composition, without giving source credits?

There are a number of well known European, that is, for the time-being, incl. British , politicians that have obtained their PhDs in this way as well...

A.

[Dominic]

As I said previously, THIS SITE received a takedown request for a quiz that was posted (in good faith) in February.

The solution is simple. Get permission first. When I did the blog about Akoursos, I first asked the guy who posted the original video on youtube for his permission. He was more than happy, as you can see in the youtube comments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpdaR2MtsHQ

[smudger]

In fairness folks, regardless of our own experiences here or in/on a former life/forum - Dominic is responsible and answerable for this forum, Paphos Life, so let's respect that eh??

[PaphosAL]

100% agreed! Let's keep PL a safe, sanitized, free from © infringements, and a happy home for Dominic to run!

Cheers- AL

[JimX]

CL did have a few legal problems all were due members posting names and insults, never photos, just to make a point, the owner of any forum will at some point the need to remove spam and some members who cross the line, but you would not run a forum if this was a problem.

Dom I asked Google some years ago about their "image" section they said then, that if they were open to Google users then they are not in anyway watermarked, so for none profit making postings OK to use. Seems about right. You can over worry about this.

Be a shame to have to remove all pictures and I feel completely unnecessary, of course, you do as you wish, and good luck.

[Dominic]

We wouldn't have to remove all pictures. The vast majority of pics have been taken by the people posting them.

The 'non profit-making' tag applies to sites though, not individual postings. Any site with advertising is therefore excluded.

Simple solution is to ask for permission, or take your own pic.

[JimX]

No mention of any ''watermarked'' or ''Copyrighted'' on the link, as I posted Dom, Google say they are OK to use for none profit making purposes so that is from the horse's mouth, again I never had problems of the legal kind by photo postings only the big mouths who we got rid of eventually.

I do have my own photo page and in the past been in the profession, Dom.

https://www.google.com.cy/search?q=cypr ... 0KBy5vRGPM:

[Dominic]

At the top of that page it clearly states "Images may be subject to copyright".

[JimX]

OK I give up you win , this is one of mine open to use if anyone wishes to..just wondered why the hundreds of Goole images posted on CL never flagged any copyright?

Just a point many members including myself post-Utube music, all are copyrighted are we not to post these either? just asking.


"Out of curiosity, did you ever receive any takedown notices for quizzes or the like?"

(Edit Monday 14th) No never only from disgruntled business owners locally, some members posted some truly awful stuff, those members are with you now, we always obliged and remove that sort of material but Legal notices we had several private ones and from businesses locally, we did it our way including by removing the violation and regrettably or not the members perpetrating the rules of the forum, so called copyrighted material, Dom if you take things like this seriously, you will certainly be faced with some members upsetting local business, but as for photos off the web, then relax you should not have any problems we never did in 15 years or so, after all who would see them? no doubt you are using streaming TV? that is illegal and copyrighted so look out for those detection vans.

Utube music is copyrighted and if played on a profit making forum like PL then you may be subjected to Royalty fees to the artist's, not wishing to upset or step on anyone's toes, it never happened to us, but we were aware of it.

[Dominic]

Youtube music is different. You are posting a link to the youtube site, or if it is embedded, it is done so with youtube's consent and approval. However, if you ripped the music to an MP3 file, and posted the MP3 file itself on a site, rather than a youtube link, then they would object.

So this is fine, as it takes you to the youtube site:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y

Out of curiosity, did you ever receive any takedown notices for quizzes or the like?

[Dominic]

When you get your first letter from a lawyer demanding payment for copyright infringement, I will be interested to read what you make of it.

[Dominic]

Sounds like you need a better lawyer.

[Dominic]

Given your stated track records in such matters I think I will pass on that. It is a lot easier to just not use copyrighted materials in the first place.

Or pay for them, which is another option. The Paphos Life avatar includes a logo of a robot in a hard hat carrying a briefcase. I got it off the internet, legitimately, for the princely sum of €5. I could have designed a similar one myself for free, but given how little it cost, it was cheaper to license the one I originally saw.

This is also why I usually carry a camera with me. You never know when you might need a mundane scene as a background image. Far better to take a wander through a shopping mall yourself snapping random snaps, than risk using copyright material. It makes for some boring holiday snaps, but provided you show your friends only your best ones, it isn't too intrusive. I even have a collection of wall shots, taken in abandoned villages. Some of those walls have excellent patterns on them. Nobody has ever asked to see my collection of wall snaps though.

[Dominic]

The point I was making Dom is that for minor, fairly innocent, copyright infringements, it ain't worth the candle taking action against an individual or small enterprise. An apology, explanation of ignorance and a promise not to do it again will invariably get you off the hook.

That isn't true any more I'm afraid. There are companies out there making a living out of doing just that. Now, they may not have affected you, but they are out there.