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And they want me to put together a montage for them from their gameplay. Is it illegal to edit for them since they don't own the video game itself? Thanks!
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answered on Jun 15, 2024
The video montage most likely would be considered as an infringing derivative of the copyright audiovisual work (the game). This could result in a DMCA takedown notice. It's equally or more likely that the videogame producer would appreciate the publicity for their product (assuming the... View More 
And they want me to put together a montage for them from their gameplay. Is it illegal to edit for them since they don't own the video game itself? Thanks!
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answered on Jun 15, 2024
Editing a Minecraft gameplay video for a client is generally not illegal, as long as the video adheres to Mojang's (the developer of Minecraft) guidelines for using Minecraft content. Mojang allows players to create and share video content based on Minecraft, with some limitations:
1.... View More
I want to build a collection of simple programs that are essentially building blocks to build original programs. An example would be a program that demonstrates multiprocessing with four threads.
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answered on Mar 26, 2024
In general, copying copyrighted code, even for basic functions, without permission can be legally risky. Copyright laws vary by country but typically protect the expression of ideas, including code. If the examples are copyrighted, it is best to seek permission, use alternatives that are in the... View More
I want to build a collection of simple programs that are essentially building blocks to build original programs. An example would be a program that demonstrates multiprocessing with four threads.
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answered on Mar 26, 2024
Like many software copyright questions, this one is fun to answer because it implicates the "merger doctrine" of (c) law.
Expressions of ideas have copyright as soon as the expression is made. Ideas themselves cannot have copyright. For example, detailed instructions for making a... View More
3dfx made computer accessories under the Voodoo brand. Nvidia, who makes the GeForce series of computer accessories acquired 3dfx in 2001 and shut them down. Nvidia never uses any of their branding or trademarks, they only use portions of technology that was internally developed. Over 20 years... View More
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answered on Feb 21, 2024
Using a brand and trademark that has been dormant for over 25 years could potentially lead to trademark infringement issues, even if the original owner has ceased using it. Trademark rights can persist as long as the owner continues to renew and maintain them, regardless of whether they actively... View More
Fair use allows saving an image that isn't artistic but it doesn't allow an artistic work to be copied without it being infringement. Is it the context of the artistic element that makes it ok to screenshot Google Street View imagery for private use offline, but not ok to "save image... View More
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answered on Jan 31, 2024
The key difference between saving an image of an artistic work and a non-artistic work, like a family photo, lies in the concept of copyright and fair use. Artistic works are typically protected by copyright, which gives the creator exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display their work.... View More
Examples:
1. I draw a fan art of a car with a company logo on the front from a photograph without permission.
2. I draw a fan art without permission of a character.
3. I right click a copyrighted image from Google Images, Bing Images, or a website, etc. and click "save... View More
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answered on Jan 30, 2024
Determining fair use versus copyright infringement can be complex, but some general principles apply:
1. Using a company's logo in fan art without permission is generally trademark infringement, not fair use. Trademarks identify the source of goods/services, so using them suggests... View More
Archiving these into my personal storage without sharing is also considered fair use then? Incidental sharing means sharing only to one or a small number of people?
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answered on Jan 30, 2024
In the United States, fair use is a legal doctrine that allows for the limited use of copyrighted materials without the permission of the copyright holder. Saving a website offline or copying and pasting its content verbatim into your personal notes for later studying may potentially be considered... View More
I'm looking for an overview of everything it would generally cover. I already know it covers criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. But does this apply to an individual, businesses, or both; is it only for private uses or anything non-commercial only? Is it... View More
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answered on Jan 30, 2024
Fair use is a legal doctrine that provides certain limited exceptions to copyright law, allowing the unlicensed use of copyright-protected works in certain circumstances. Here's a broad overview:
- Fair use applies to both individuals and businesses/organizations. It covers private,... View More
I want to save the images of the inside of a house I grew up in offline for memories. How is this different from screenshotting Google Street View Imagery for memories offline? Wouldn't it be copyright infringement to copy a copyrighted image without permission whether it be downloading,... View More
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answered on Jan 30, 2024
Hi there. Good morning, and happy Tuesday. A few key points regarding saving images from Zillow.com or Google Street View:
- Simply saving an image from a website to your personal computer for private viewing and memories is generally considered fair use under copyright law. You are not... View More
How does this difference apply to these types of images: artistic works, non-artistic works, photography, non-artistics things in general such as screenshotting a house on Google Street View, etc.?
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answered on Jan 30, 2024
The difference between "downloading" and "using 'save image as'" for a copyrighted image is largely technical and does not significantly alter the legal implications regarding copyright law. Both actions involve making a copy of the image, which can infringe on the... View More
How does this difference apply to these types of images: artistic works, non-artistic works, photography, non-artistics things in general such as screenshotting a house on Google Street View, etc.?
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answered on Jan 30, 2024
The key differences between "downloading" and "save image as" for copyrighted images are:
Downloading:
- Typically involves transfer of the full image file from a website to your device storage.
- Often involves making an unauthorized copy of the digital... View More
What about if the images contain someone's car or any trademarks? Does this action infringe on any IP, such as design patents, patents, copyrights, trademarks, etc.?
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answered on Jan 29, 2024
Under copyright law, using a screenshot of Google Street View imagery for personal, non-commercial purposes, like reminiscing about a house you grew up in, generally falls under fair use. However, it's important to be mindful of how you use these images, especially if you decide to share them... View More
I want to use Google's Android keyboard app to write stories into a commercial use android word processing app and then sell them. The only thing I found in Google's service-specific additional terms under "Gboard" is no selling. Does no selling apply to all Google app or... View More
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answered on Jan 29, 2024
When interpreting Google's terms regarding the use of their apps and services, such as Gboard, it's crucial to differentiate between the app itself and the content you create using the app. Generally, the prohibition against selling usually refers to the app or the service itself, not the... View More
By content on the website, I mean the notes I can take verbatim, copy and pasting. In this instance, notes are not the entire website content, but a sizable portion of the text for private studying. The notes may or may not infringe on copyright. How is copying notes verbatim different from... View More
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answered on Jan 24, 2024
There are some key differences between copying textual website content into private notes versus copying images or videos without permission:
1. Purpose and character of use: Taking verbatim notes for private study purposes is more likely to be considered fair use than pure entertainment... View More
I read online that most people don't care since it isn't being shared but yet they still are copying without permission. There's also saving a copyrighted image from Google Images and setting it as a desktop or phone wallpaper without permission; I read online that could be legal,... View More
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answered on Jan 24, 2024
Yes, generally printing a copyrighted image for personal use in a kid's bedroom without permission from the copyright holder would still be considered copyright infringement. Here's a breakdown:
- Simply making an unauthorized copy of a copyrighted work constitutes infringement,... View More
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answered on Jan 24, 2024
There is no definitive yes or no answer to this question, as determining fair use involves a complex, fact-specific analysis. However, some key considerations regarding backing up legally obtained apps and software include:
- If the terms of use or license agreement specifically prohibit... View More
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answered on Jan 24, 2024
* If you are simply writing down a recipe from another source for your own personal use in your notebook, that would generally be considered fair use and not copyright infringement. Some key factors to consider:
* Recipes themselves cannot be copyrighted, but the creative expression... View More
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answered on Jan 24, 2024
Copying and pasting dictionary definitions into your notes or flashcard app for personal use generally falls under the category of "fair use," a concept in U.S. copyright law. Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders,... View More
I read Google Play's terms of use and it says that Google Play content is for non-commercial use only. I contacted an app developer, who published their apps on the platform, if one of their apps was non-commercial use only and they responded that there were no restrictions on using their app.... View More
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answered on Jan 23, 2024
When it comes to using apps from the Google Play Store for commercial purposes, it's important to differentiate between the terms of service of the platform (Google Play) and the terms of use of individual apps. Google Play's terms generally refer to the content they directly provide, not... View More
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