Advice on Copyright Matters

[Khoo Hock Leong]

Hi Jyotish Fellow Members

One of my previous jobs was acting as a Copyright Clearance Officer for Teachers' Education Audio Video CDs, net materials (including posting and usage) both literary and graphic.

Just to share with you to what extent you can make use of published materials in your discussion :

(1) Normally copyright laws for each country have one for pertaining to research purposes and one for general public use. The one for research purposes is generally more liberal. Since we now in a blog, the one for general public use should apply.

But since there is no law which specifically says it is for blog (which is a recent phenomenon) even if there is one for the net and not all countries have a law for the net. the following points are only GUIDELINES.

(2) In a blog whatever ideas you have obtained elsewhere, always try to rephrase it in your own words. This is important. Otherwise you have to do step (3).

Better still you should also mention the author's name. But since in a blog there are so many references made, sometimes one do forget the names. Then just a mention that it was something you read would do but even if youd do not do it, it is OK as it is a blog. Just use your own words.

(3) If you are doing a direct quotation, always put in the copyright mark besides indicating the name, title and date of the article and the source of publication. The start and end of the quotation should be clearly indicated with placemarkers.

It is better to do a direct quotation only in the middle of blog and not start with it as then the intention to be assigned blameworthiness for copying is more remote for eg. in answering to another person's query after you have started an initial discussion.

(4) The material you do a direct quote should not be excessive and should be just enough to do 'your job' like answering a query. Also in my opinion, anything beyond 1 page is excessive in the case of a blog.

(5) Materials you get directly from the web are freely accesible so the above steps (1) to (4) do not apply unless the person who sets up the web site owns the materials he post on his website. The onus is on the person who set up the web if there are any charges of infringement, NOT YOU if the person who sets up the web site gets the material from a third party.

However, the moderators for this blog have a final say on whether to what extent and how such materials are to be used. So far the only point made is that no URLs or Links are allowed in the discussion based on the guidelines provided.

Again, I repeat, the above are only guidelines, so do not be over jittery. This is just to enlighten you so that you can up your cyberwellness - not just in this blog - but also whereever you are in the net doing your work and for your own general knowledge.

Regards

Hock Leong

[Khoo Hock Leong]

Hi

Any replies to this post is welcomed.

Regards

Hock Leong

[revribhav]

You have given good suggestions dear, however,most of the members belong to India, a country where copying is prevalent everywhere,including most of the feature films .

[Narayan]

Revribhavji:

I simply cannot stop laughing.

Rgds

Narayanan

[revribhav]

Keep yourself in good humour Narayan,
If you feel happy then
you will find that life is worth living.

[adi]

Thanks Koo Hock Leong

This information is nonetheless very useful and can be applied anywhere including research thesis etc. or any other forums.
Thanks a lot for sharing this.

Best,
Adi