[Mytribalworld]

Originally Posted by migueldiaz

Hello Arjan, thanks for the comments!

And thanks again for bringing up this important topic on copyrighted materials vis-a-vis their sharing publicly.

Setting aside the legalities for the moment, I think one other (and perhaps even more important) aspect is the test of good faith.

Long story short, all of the members in this forum when they cite info or post photos of others' works do so in good faith (that is, without any malice aforethought). Hence we all pass this aspect with flying colors

Back to the technical aspect, and this is just my understanding -- the sharing and use of copyrighted materials under the fair use concept may and usually involve their public broadcasting.

Kindly note please that the use of copyrighted materials under fair use is for "criticism, news reporting, research, teaching or scholarship".

Once again, this is just my own interpretation of the principle, as we've actually tackled this point in the past in this forum. Hence I took the time then to study the matter.

Vandoo, I think you hit the nail right in the head, once again

Of the four guidelines of fair use, I think the 4th criteria ("the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work") is the most important to the person whose work is being reproduced.

And precisely when portions of an author's work is posted in forums, talked about in blogs, passed along in Facebook, etc., then the potential market increases, and the value per se of the work rises.

So Vandoo, it's the author who should feel guilty if he or she gets free publicity and yet you and I don't get anything out of it

Some day I plan to write a book on Phil. weapons.

And I'd be the happiest person on earth if many people will post pics in forums from my book, or somebody will quote a block of text from the same, among other means of spreading the info that such a book actually exists and it was made by mister so and so

But that's just me, but I have a feeling that other would-be authors would share this sentiment.

Truly this is a very relevant topic, and I personally thank Arjan once again for bringing this up.

Best wishes to all ...

Hi Miquel,

The rigth answer in these cases will be anywhere in the mid I think. Copyrigth material is always a grey area and certainly in these modern times its getting at least "old Fashioned"

Of course I believe in the good trust of all forumities but realize also that write a book about a specific subject mostly cost money and slurps an enourmous lot of time.
Funny that just today a bill comes in here from our royal museum for the publication of just 4 photo's and that only cost me 180 euro.
I think the other museum that I contacted will als charge me also something for their pics.

I mostly not childish with sharing info but I don't think we speak about "fair share" if someone pays hunderds of euro's while other just copy and paste ( print)

On the other way its indeed impossible to discuss an object without sharing pics so I think when its a kind of limited use a writer wouldn't care.
But take care that we not list complete bookchapters online, it would temper the authors enthousiasme