Your Mashup Is Probably Legal

TV Barn writes "We've been conditioned to think that if you pull something off the web and use it, you're committing some sort of copyright infringement. But increasingly, the law is moving in the opposite direction. Provided you are making a truly new use of the content, you are free to make money off those copyrighted images and video and sound. On Monday the Center for Social Media released 'Code of Best Practices for Fair Use in Online Video,' which reflects the latest changes in copyright law that has expanded the understanding of fair use to include 'transformational effect.' Already Miro has endorsed the guidelines, as have several public broadcasters. The Center has a good track record, having issued guidelines for documentary filmmakers that have greatly reduced copyright claims in that area. The website has plenty of resources for mashers and mixers; I interviewed the Center's director in this podcast that summarizes the most important findings of the report." On the other hand, says reader kaliphonia, your guitar tablature sites may not fare so well.

Comments

Step 5!

[muellerr1]

FTA:

FOUR: Reproducing, reposting, or quoting in order to memorialize, preserve, or rescue an experience, an event, or a cultural phenomenon
FIVE: Copying, reposting, and recirculating a work or part of a work for purposes of launching a discussion

Somebody post a copy of Windows XP: I want to memorialize and preserve it, and I'd like to launch a discussion about how MS should continue to sell and support XP.

I guess what I'm saying is, as nice as these Fair Use guidelines are, they're only as good as the lawyers that fight for them and the deep pockets that will fund them.

Re:Step 5!

[Darkness404]

Exactly, or ROMs for old systems that the companies have either gone broke or they aren't making any money off of them. The difference though is, it is becoming increasingly not, "is this legal" but rather "does anyone care?".