Alexander Stephen Bradbury wrote:
I was wondering whther you have any answers on some copyright issue-related questions I have. Such as, in [[The Matrix]] article, can I legally add a screen capture from my DVD copy?, how about a small scan of the box cover? I can include a FULL cast list can't I? And what about computer games, or applications. Can I post screenshots of them? Can I reproduce copies of pictures of famous actors and post them under fair use (or maybe show a picture of them starring in a movie). Do we have answers to any of these questions?
Thanks, ASB [[User:Smelialichu]]
I got email from Lawrence Lessig about this, and the answers are not really so clear yet. I'm waiting for him to respond to my latest, but obviously he's a really busy guy.
I would say:
1. We need to have a disclaimer on the download page, saying that our database contains fair use materials, and that although *we* don't place any further non-GFDL restrictions on what people might do with those things, they should be sure that *their* use is legal.
2. A screen capture from a DVD is pretty clearly fair use in our context, less clearly fair use in other people's context.
3. A small scan of the boxcover is pretty clearly fair use in our context, less clearly fair use in other people's context.
4. Full cast lists should pose no problem of any kind. A simple list is not subject to copyright anyway, and who starred in a movie is a _fact_ of the type that can't be protected by copyright.
5. Pictures of celebrities are questionable. One of the factors for fair use is "portion of the work used". One frame from a film is pretty obviously a tiny quote from the film. One photograph by a photographer, though, is pretty obviously the whole thing. At least one court decision, though, protects fair use for thumbnails, which is how Google can legally have their image search. (The case is Arriba v. somebody I forgot).
6. WE DO NOT HAVE CLEAR GUIDANCE YET ON ANY OF THIS.
--Jimbo