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Copyright Policy

Tips for the Internet

The Internet IS NOT the public domain. There are both uncopyrighted and copyrighted materials available. When in doubt, assume a work is copyrighted.

• Always credit the source of your information by posting the author name, if known, the source and a link to the original article.
• Find out if the author or site provides information on duplication. If explicit guidelines exist, please follow them.
• Whenever feasible, ask the owner of the copyright for permission. Keep a copy of your request for permission and the permission received.

  Tips for requesting permission (tried and true):

  • Your name and email address
  • Request permission to use copyrighted work
  • Identify the site on which you wish to post the material
  • Explain how you will use the material and how much you will use
  • Agree that you will give the author and/or website full credit by posting the author's name and a URL

  You will usually receive a favorable reply to your request but do not assume that no reply equals permission.

  • Keep received permission on file.
  • Forward a copy of the permission e-mail to admin@progressiveindependent.com.
  • Place a notice at the bottom of your post crediting the original author, noting that you received permission to repost in full on a particular date.
  • Include the URL of the original source and the author's name.
    
    

  Example of a letter requesting permission to reprint:

  Dear Sir or Madame,
  
  I'm requesting permission to reprint one of your articles on the progressive news & discussion forum Progressive Independent at http://www.progressiveindependent.com
  
  Recently you published the following article: INTELLIGENCE REPORT:
  US "private military contractors" already in-country to "deal with"
  Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez Frias...
  http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=46388 and we would like to
  post it in full.   Do we have your permission to do so?
  
  We will gladly publish a link to your site giving you full credit for
  this important news.
  
  Also, is it possible to obtain a blanket permission from you to reprint
  (with link and credit) future articles of yours?  We are on the same side
  and fighting for the same justice- either permission would be greatly
  appreciated.
  
  Regards,
  
  Your name

Not copyrighted:

• Judicial opinions.
• Public ordinances.
• Administrative rulings.
• Works created by federal government employees as part of their official responsibility.
• Works for which copyright wasn't obtained or copyright has expired (extremely rare!).

• The more you use, the less likely it will be considered fair use.
• Does the amount you use exceed a reasonable expectation? If it approaches 50 percent of the entire work, it is likely to be considered an unfair use of the copyrighted work.

Licenses implied in fact:

Fair use allows limited uses of another's work without approval, but other uses may be approved by implication. For example, when a message is posted to a public email list, both forwarding and archiving fair use is allowed through implication because it is reasonable to understand that the author wants their work disseminated. 

If you want to copyright your own work:

Registration costs only $30.00, and simple application forms with basic instructions are available from the Copyright Office -- TX still appears to be the best choice. Yet, it would be prohibitively expensive for prolific authors or artists to register individual items other than in the context of existing disputes. Your options would be much improved by registering specific multiple works as a collection.

News Web Sites

• American Association of Law Libraries - Washington Affairs Office Action Alerts. Contains recent news and information on copyright and fair use legislation.
• American Library Association Office of Washington Affairs - Current news and updates in copyright legislation.
• Copyright Headlines - From the Center for Democracy and Technology
• Copyright and Intellectual Property Resources- From the Association of Research Libraries, includes information on current legislation.
• Hot News and Active Copyright Issues - From the Digital Future Coalition.

Questions:

1. Can I forward or post an email message?
   Forwarding email is technically a violation of the Copyright Law but revealing facts from the email message is not. Keep private email private, unless you have permission from the original writer.  Please do not post private PMs you have received from other members without their express permission. If you have received an abusive PM, please contact the Administrators.
   
2. Can I forward or post a message from a discussion list or newsgroup?
   These messages are considered published. Abide by the Fair Use Guidelines. It is considered good manners to seek permission from the original creator before posting or forwarding the message.
   
3. Do you have a list of sites that allow full duplication?
   We are currently developing a Permissions Page
   

If you are quoting another's work without permission, and are relying upon the fair use doctrine to protect your copying, make certain that you quote accurately, provide proper credit to the source of the copied work, and if possible add value to the quoted material by comparing, criticizing or commenting upon such material.

Public domain

Copyright symbol

The absence of a copyright symbol © does not indicate that material is without copyright restrictions. Most nations follow the Berne copyright convention recognizing works created after April 1, 1989 to be protected whether or not a copyright notice is present.

Progressive Independent & Progressive Defense are non-profit services providing breaking news & discussion for the progressive community.

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