Copyright infringement... again

[JL2011]

Hi,

Ok, this has been really bugging me lately. Is it possible to absolutely avoid committing copyright infringement when using the Internet?

When I truly realized we as Christians should obey the law, I decided to stop doing some things. Some time ago, I stopped downloading music illegaly… then, I stopped watching YouTube videos that didn’t seem legally uploaded (videos and music)… then, I stopped searching for song lyrics in sites that offered them apparently without the permission needed… and now, I’m feeling afraid of having to do a homework where I have to include images, just because I don’t know which of the images I find on Google may or may not have copyrights!

I repeat the question: Is it possible to absolutely avoid committing copyright infringement when using the Internet?

Is copyright infringement grave matter?

Btw, I live in Mexico, and I’m not sure Mexico has something like Fair Use in its law…

 

[DexUK]

I know there are other threads where copyright in respect of homework has been comprehensively covered, so I’m not going to repeat all that has been said in those places other than to say that academic works are written in order to teach and homework is required in order for you to demonstrate that you have understood, therefore it is implicitly understood that you will, by necessity, have to refer to other people’s works in order to complete your assignments. Make references where necessary by using a bibliography and remember that plain facts cannot be copyrighted - i.e. I can write that the sky is blue because of the way the air scatters and absorbs different wavelengths of light, but I can’t claim copyright if you were to write the same thing in order to demonstrate you understand the subject because it is only a simple fact, rather than a literary work which belongs to me.

Copyright infringement as grave matter will depend on the results of the infringement for you and the owner of the copyright. If you profit by wilfully infringing someone’s copyright and if they are denied profit then there exists the possibility of theft (in a moral sense) or fraud (in that you might be passing off someone else’s original work as your own).

Each situation will be different. Simply use your own conscientious judgement and if you genuinely don’t know if something is sinful or not, then remember that that automatically means you’re not sinning mortally.

 

[Baelor]

Talk to a priest about scrupulosity if that is an issue for you.

The proper resource is a library or a teacher at school, not this forum (although I suppose the two may overlap).

Is it possible to absolutely avoid committing copyright infringement when using the Internet?

Yes, obviously.

 

[kch86]

Now, this is just my opinion, and I don’t know where others stand on the matter, but I think while we should try, where reasonable, to respect copyright law, we should also avoid being too scrupulous.

Most of us generally cannot avoid indirectly supporting abortion or gay marriage in some way because we buy products from companies that do. Now, we should, perhaps be more careful, but we really have no control over how various companies use their profits.

I think every one of us occasionally breaks the speed limit by 5 or 10mph, and that usually is not a grave matter, unless doing so seriously endangers you or the life of another, which it typically doesn’t.

Similarly, in the case of casual web browsing, I wouldn’t worry too much. If you’re viewing material that you know to be copyrighted, I’d ponder the following questions,

“Is the author of this material entitled to receive payment from persons using it for non-commercial purposes?”

“If he is entitled, does he command a fair price for his labour and skill, and is there a reasonable way of accessing the material for a fee?”

In addition, sometimes you may want to download songs from an album, for example, to see if you really want to have it. You could go through the hassle of recording them on the radio if you wanted to have them for free. You could also listen to them on a free, ad-funded music service. Or you could just download them and if you like them, buy the album and support the artist, or if you don’t, delete them and not listen to them again.

I mean, in this example, you are still within the spirit of the law, I think. Sure, you’re bending it for the sake of convenience, but it’s man’s law, and the end result is the same - you’re paying for the material that you wish to possess.

I seriously doubt you can commit a grave sin if you consciously try and stick to what would be fair to the author of the material in question.

 

[JL2011]

Thank you all.

The proper resource is a library or a teacher at school, not this forum (although I suppose the two may overlap).

Yes, obviously.

I doubt someone else around me cares about Internet copyrights… a teacher even advised us to download an illegal copy of an application we needed for the course, because the school hadn’t had it installed yet.

And I wish it could be that obvious for me, too. I mean, as a student, I’m required to take images from the Internet for my assignments, but I just can’t seem to know which ones can be copyrighted, and trying to contact every single owner of an image (that will probably answer days/weeks later or won’t even answer) just sounds like it’s too much.

 

[ProVobis]

Some time ago, I stopped downloading music illegaly… then, I stopped watching YouTube videos that didn’t seem legally uploaded (videos and music)…

Sites like YouTube have their own screening mechanisms against copyright violations. Since they profit from the traffic and are liable, it is up to them to remove questionable copyrighted material. Otherwise it is okay to view. (I wouldn’t try to copy anything, however.)

 

[runningdude]

Thank you all.

I doubt someone else around me cares about Internet copyrights… a teacher even advised us to download an illegal copy of an application we needed for the course, because the school hadn’t had it installed yet.

And I wish it could be that obvious for me, too. I mean, as a student, I’m required to take images from the Internet for my assignments, but I just can’t seem to know which ones can be copyrighted, and trying to contact every single owner of an image (that will probably answer days/weeks later or won’t even answer) just sounds like it’s too much.

Using online images in class assignment is generally acceptable even by copyright standards, with proper credit. When publishing for profit, it becomes more necessary to seek permission.

Another resource is Creative Commons search on websites like Flickr. You can search for images where the author specifically gives you permission to reuse the photos/images.

 

[1ke]

Sure it is. For images, go to Creative Commons. www.creativecommons.org

 

[edwest2]

We should all make the effort to find out - now - before we’re faced with a school assignment or something similar. Ask a teacher or a librarian. Call if you’re concerned about not getting an answer by e-mail.

And some web sites, not all, have notices that state; “The following article may be used for personal use.” Or “Do not copy any images from this site.” Or “The following article can be copied but only if this web site, date and author’s name are included.”

Being scrupulous is better than being lax. And youtube? Please read the following:

youtube.com/t/copyright_owners

And people think that “fair use” covers a lot more than it does. Once again, ask or call a librarian and explain what you need and how you intend to use it.

Peace,
Ed

 

[JABA]

If it is a sin to watch illegally uploaded youtube videos and downloading music, you should also not be watching tv or listening to the radio as you are not paying for it. Nor should you borrow or lend a friend a book or lend them a pen, as it’s only fair that they buy their own.
D

Remember, law does not always correlate with moral law. Something illegal does not make it immoral, nor something legal, make it moral.