h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've seen some discussion about quoting (songs, for example), here and there in various forums -- and think some clarification is in order.

Does the copyright rule prevent quotes altogether? If so, I find it somewhat harsh since quoting is done everywhere -- in newspapers, for example, song lyrics are almost inevitably quoted everytime an album is reviewed. Naturally, you should mention what/who you are quoting, thereby recognising their right to the work...

Could we get the official word on that, please?

It's a big area, copyright law, but essentially you can quote sections of copyright material *only* if you are writing an entry about that work. Thus randomly quoted song lyrics are not OK, but quoting lyrics in an entry about that song or artist is fine.

It's also worth noting that anything written by someone has been dead for more than 70 years is automatically copyright free (except for Peter Pan, interestingly).

I would write something about it, but I'm not a copyright lawyer...

Mark

Ok Mark i have a similar problem i recieved an email last night about copyright on my page because i have song lyrics which i have place on my along with specific reasons to show a part of personality and music plays a big part in my front page already as i do my top5 favorite CD's and am planning to do some about artists and songs etc!

THerefore can you do me a favour and check my page to see how i can include these lyrics without going against copyright laws as they are to become a strong part in my page.

Em

Bull is that going against copyright laws. As long as it's not for commercial use, I defy you to find one instance of a succsesfull prosecution. I could qoute a song in a street as loud as I liked, directly next to a policeman, a record company exec, and the recording artist, and they couldn't say a word. In fact they probably would just look at me like I was a little odd, but that's not the point. What is the point?...Oh yeah. This forum is Exactly the same as that, a street corner. OK, so it's written word, and has more permanancy, but I could stand on my soap box shouting "I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY, LUCKY LUCKY LUCKY!!!" over and over again, for the rest of my life (breaking for meals, and ablutions), and I wouldn't be breaking the law. What's the difference?

wide

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wow you guys. We're so subversive that we're being censored. How ridiculous is this. This site is rapidly losing all respect.

wide

I used to worship h2g2, but with all this squacking, I'm losing my religion.

Can I kick it?

Hmm! Just like my Song titles thread

Here's a song title I *should* have posted when the censors were in town.

F*** the Police - NWA

at least you got the song titles back later...

wild - go pester Abi at the moderation help desk if you feel you've been over-moderated. That's what it's there for, and the more people complain, the more unworkable the system becomes, and the more likely it is to be changed.

I got ONE song title back, there is still a lot of missing posting over there.

I did complain at the helpdesk and have yet to get a reply.

side note: this seems to be a way to make a fun game - try http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A522127

I'm sure Abi will get round to your post eventually - she's doing the work of three people at the moment...

*dashes over to Lucinda's link*



Very good.

I Like it a lot.

I'll be back.

Ok the removed thing was actually the same it wouldn't post though!
But its so not fair...talk about breach of privacy!

This is what i say to the copyright stuff!