Are Websites Profiteering From Copyright Laws?

• peiyi

  5 Feb 04, 23:27

  Scenario:
  
  You've downloaded a picture of a generic map of Singapore from xyz.com and posted it onto your blog to give readers an idea of what your country looks like. You made sure to modify the map.
  
  Few months down the road, you're served with a notice that you've infringed copyrights and xyz.com has decided to sue you for $10k.
  
  You find out that you're not the first person being sued by xyz.com for copyright infringements and xyz.com have sued many before you.
  
  Question:
  
  

  1. Should xyz.com find ways to protect "their" map to prevent others from downloading it after suing the first party for copyright infringements?

  
  

  2. Is xyz.com profiteering from copyright laws?
• Atobe

  5 Feb 04, 23:42

  It depends if there are any fine prints on the Home Page of the Website, and if there are any WARNINGS in those fine prints.
  
  Most defense against such 'cheap' attempts by websites screaming infringement of copyright laws, is that the fine prints are not prominent enough, and that the warnings are not prominent or clearly made known.
  
  Warning notices must be clear and prominent, especially in places that invite one to use the facilities; if none exist, or if it does exist but placed without due prominence or significance - and designed to be lost - it will be likely that one can get away from this charge.
  
  This is similar to past disputes between car owners and car park operator or carpark owner, over the insignificant warnings printed on car park coupons, or the non-prominent warnings at the entrance of car parks, in which the Operator and the Owner of the Building will disclaim responsibility of damage or loss of property from the cars that utilise its parking facilities.
  
  Incidentally, extracting prints from the Singapore Street Directory for other then private use is prohibited - as the copyright is quite prominently made in its early pages leading to the directory proper.
  
  You will be infringing on copyrights if you make any copies of extracts from the Singapore Street Directory for your wedding invitation card, company advertisements, sale of property, etc.
  
  
• peiyi

  6 Feb 04, 00:03

  Sorry, may i know which website you're referring to? Perhaps you could provide the url? thanks!
• Atobe

  6 Feb 04, 03:39

  
  Try to read and understand from the following websites:
  
  What is Copyright Protection ?
  http://www.whatiscopyright.org/
  
  Copyright - an Overview
  http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/copyright.html
  
  General Information about Copyrights
  http://www.patents.com/copyrigh.htm
  
  US Copyright Office
  http://www.copyright.gov/
  
  
• peiyi

  6 Feb 04, 10:27

  Sorry i meant the url to the particular street directory u're referring to.
• Atobe

  6 Feb 04, 16:04

  Originally posted by peiyi:

  Sorry i meant the url to the particular street directory u're referring to.

  Sorry, do not recall the Singapore Street Directories having any website anywhere.
  
  
• Photoshop

  15 Feb 04, 09:31

  [quote]Originally posted by Atobe:
  Sorry, do not recall the Singapore Street Directories having any website anywhere.
  [/quote]
  
  To the best of my knowledge, there are only 2 websites that have their maps online. They say you can use their maps for free BUT read carefully and you'll see that there are strings attached.They are
  www.streetdirectory.com
  www.can.com.sg
  
  
• stormax

  22 Feb 04, 01:17

  Originally posted by peiyi:
  [b]Scenario:
  
  You've downloaded a picture of a generic map of Singapore from xyz.com and posted it onto your blog to give readers an idea of what your country looks like. You made sure to modify the map.
  
  Few months down the road, you're served with a notice that you've infringed copyrights and xyz.com has decided to sue you for $10k.
  
  You find out that you're not the first person being sued by xyz.com for copyright infringements and xyz.com have sued many before you.
  
  Question:
  
  xyz.com is profiteering from copyright laws
  
  

  1. Should xyz.com find ways to protect "their" map to prevent others from downloading it after suing the first party for copyright infringements?

  
  

  2. Is xyz.com profiteering from copyright laws?

  [/b]