Re: Copyright infringement

[Bob_Maxey@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

>> I noticed that your web page includes links to images which
> are not yours. While links to other pages on the web are
> often a nice way to promote someone else's web page, failing
> to include an introductory line as to the fact that the
> viewer is about to access someone else's web page AND
> bypassing their opening page AND just using their image is
> not only poor web mannors but a violation of copyright.

There have been a number of cases already over the issue of Links. Linking
to items on a web page is generally accepted and many books on web design
explain the process of creating page links, as do many page generation
software packages. Linking is not something I generally do, as I can't be
sure that the page I link to will be there. I do use them occasionally,
though.

The idea that simply linking to a page is infringement of copyright is
still up in the air and not so simple. I can see it being an issue if you
specifically state that you do not want anyone linking to your page, but so
what. You can't prevent it and since you are aware that anyone can link to
you, you loose any right to use Infringement as a basis for a case.

As far as adding some introductory line, this is not needed. You can easily
tell from reading the URL if it links to another page. Also, anyone on the
Internet for any amount of time understands that a line that is underlined
and has http:// prefacing it, is a link.

The Internet is a vast playground for the lawyers and we will see all kinds
of crazy lawsuits over wrong doings, Suspected, real, serious or not
harmful in the least. Remember also that the Internet is a world wide
forum, and you are accountable for what you post. People seem to forget
that there are libel laws and lawyers looking for Internet business. If
anyone believes that small cases are not what a lawyer will go after, think
again. They are specializing in minor cases.

For example, I have some of the images made by members of this list stored
on my hard drive. I sought them out specifically, and on purpose. I made a
conscience effort to save them on my computer. Not only did I not ask for
your permission to copy them, I will not ever ask you for permission to
keep and store copies of your work on my computer. And you can't sue me -
even though they might be copyrighted images, with disclaimers specifically
telling me I can't copy them.

Does this sound fair to you?

What I did was to access your Web Pages. That's it. The images are stored
in my cache where I can look at them later. Think about that for a
moment... The largest software company on the planet, provides a simple way
for me to have copies of your work on my computer. They know this happens,
they do nothing about. If this is not a perfect thing to sue over, what is?

Bob Maxey