Am I allowed to publish foreign texts on my website if I provide the source?
February 15, 2023 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Edith Fischer
Dear Media Law Attorney,
I operate a website where I regularly publish articles on various topics. Often, I would like to use texts from other authors to complement my content and provide my readers with a more diverse perspective. Of course, I want to respect the copyright and properly attribute the sources.
My question is: Am I allowed to publish texts from other authors on my website if I provide the source? I am concerned about facing legal consequences if I use texts from other authors without their permission. Are there ways I can use texts from others without violating copyright laws?
I would greatly appreciate your assessment and possible solutions to ensure that I operate my website legally and avoid any legal risks.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Verena Richter
Dear Mrs. Richter,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the use of foreign texts on your website. It is understandable that you are concerned about possible legal consequences and want to ensure that you are within the bounds of copyright law.
It is important to know that foreign texts are protected by copyright. This means that you need the permission of the author to publish their texts on your website. Simply adding a source citation is not enough to avoid copyright infringement.
However, there are various ways in which you can use foreign texts without violating copyright. One option is to obtain written permission from the author, allowing you to use and publish the text. Alternatively, you can use texts that are covered by a Creative Commons license, which clearly regulates the terms of use.
Furthermore, you can also use quotes, as long as they are appropriately short and clearly marked as quotes. It is important to mention the author of the quote and correctly cite the source.
If you are unsure whether you are allowed to use a specific text, I recommend seeking advice from a media law attorney. They can provide you with a well-founded legal assessment and, if necessary, suggest further solutions to ensure that you do not take any legal risks.
I hope this information is helpful to you and I am available for any further questions.
Sincerely,
Edith Fischer
Media Law Attorney
