[pct-l] News links

[dude at fastmail.ca (dude)]

Man....  I cut and paste and send newspaper articles several times per 
day everyday, and if any newspapers want to waste a ton of resources 
coming after me for helping them to distribute their content and 
helping them gain more marketshare, then they can come after me.  

I wouldn't lose one second's sleep over cutting and pasting a news 
paper article into an email, regardless whether the email goes to one 
person or to a list.  Newpapers have never been upset that people read 
their content.  You don't see anyone getting upset that my grandmother 
grabs a pair of scissors and clips article from the newspaper delivered 
to her door and mails them to me.  Email is no different.

As long as I give credit to the source, how in the world does the 
newspaper lose any revenue by helping them spread the word that their 
website has great content worth reading?!?!  

If I cut and paste content from a free website, one could argue that 
the site loses revenue from advertizing, but I disagree.  If I send the 
content, people who wouldn't have normally read the article will read 
it.  If they like it, then they will look at the source and seek more 
content from that source, which will then generate more users for their 
entire site and they will get more advertizing revenue from that.

If I cut and paste content from a subscription website, one could argue 
that the site loses revenue because the reader didn't have to pay for 
the subscription.  I would argue that many new readers will get a taste 
of their content and may end up buying a subscription, which will 
generate more revenue for them.

If any of these papers wants to come after me, bring it on.  You can 
have the $300 I have in the bank and get a judge to call me a "bad 
person".

Of course, I would not apply this to copywrited material that is 
purchased as a one-time purchase, such as Yogi's book for example, 
because she cannot recoupe the revenue from advertizing or 
subscriptions.  However, I could see an argument that pasting a 
paragraph to give someone a taste may ultimately entice the reader to 
buy the book.  I am not alone in that supposition, as this is exactly 
what Amazon.com, and every publisher who sells on Amazon, does by 
giving access to excerpts from the books.  Some publishers even allow 
Amazon to let users search the entire content of their books online.  
These publishers have millions invested in their products, so I am 
certain that they would not do it if it didnt generate revenue.  If 
your content is worth its salt, then the more info you give someone 
about it, the more likely they will be to discover its value and decide 
to buy it.

peace,
dude




> 
> 
>> Of couse, this might be infringement...I know nothing about copyright
> laws, but can't imagine
>> a "newspaper" article posted on the Internet isn't fair game enough
>> to
> share on a forum.
> 
> I'd err on the side of suspecting it's not fair game.  All I know is
> that the actual author of an article in the LA Times could not and
> would not send me a copy, citing that it would be illegal.
> 
> Dr Bob
> 
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