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Krazykiwi · 05-17-2017, 05:49 PM

https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wik...mparison_chart

and especially: https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wik...al_attribution

There's really no reason to not use the "ideal" format given there, (including the linking), in an ebook.

As for copyright and trademark usage, the rule is really pretty simple.

If you didn't make it, and you want to use it, you need permission, and you need to be careful to follow any instructions given.

For the majority of trademarks, wordmarks (i.e. logos containing words, like the I (heart) NY), you don't need to explicitly ask, most organisations that own that kind of thing have a web page on their site with quite precise instructions, usually labelled terms-of-use, sometimes it's under the press room label too, and you can usually find them in the footer of any corporate website (they want you to be able to find this stuff, or at least for journalists to be able to, so they're usually not very hidden. Or just put "trademark" into the search engine.

Here's HP's for instance: http://www8.hp.com/uk/en/terms-of-use.html#25 - the guidelines are strict, but very precise: Don't pretend you're related to HP, don't use the Logo, don't use HP as a possessive or plural, do use it as an adjective modifying a common noun ("An HP laptop", not "An HP") These are very typical. If you really can't find them, find the contact us link, and ask. If you don't find explicit permission, and don't get an answer, don't use the trademark.

Copyright is a whole other ball of wax, but again, if you didn't make it, find out who did, and if they haven't been dead for 70 years or more, and there is not a clearly labelled license alongside your source, like the CC licenses above, then ask.

And if they have been dead for 70 years, still best to ask.

The biggest mistake most people make about copyright is thinking the "fair use" exception that lets places like Wikipedia use things without asking for permission, will also let you - it doesn't. Fair use does not generally apply to commercial enterprise Wikipedia is a non-profit, you are not. There are exceptions, but it's unlikely you fall into any of them (satire and transformative works, for instance.) Especially song lyrics and poetry snippets get people into trouble all the time. Don't use them without asking, artists right's orgs like BMI and ASCAP go after even small indie authors all the time.

The second biggest mistake I see people making, is with images of things that are in public domain. A painting made in 1750 is clearly public domain - but you can't put a painting in your ebook. A photo of it made last year that shows exactly only the work, in a flat and unprocessed manner, is also useable. If it shows the frame and some of the wall behind it? Nope, new work, new copyright, and you have to ask the photographer for permission. So photos of things like architecture and buildings too. Just because something is old, don't assume you can use a photo of it, unless you took it yourself.

(FYI, not a lawyer, this is not legal advice. But I have written a lot of software documentation and manuals over many years, and I was the documentation manager of a pretty large software concern. I've been on both sides of this, both having to research trademarks, and having to have lawyers yell at people over compliance.

TM owners in particular, are not chasing you down for fun, "vigorously defending" your TM/WM is part of the rules of getting one in the first place, if they don't do it, they risk losing it. Don't take this stuff lightly just because 6 million idiots out there on the internet did - if you're making money, which is your stated intention, they will come after you.)

05-17-2017, 05:49 PM	#4
Krazykiwi Zealot Posts: 137 Karma: 2156958 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: Too many random androids to list	https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wik...mparison_chart and especially: https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wik...al_attribution There's really no reason to not use the "ideal" format given there, (including the linking), in an ebook. As for copyright and trademark usage, the rule is really pretty simple. If you didn't make it, and you want to use it, you need permission, and you need to be careful to follow any instructions given. For the majority of trademarks, wordmarks (i.e. logos containing words, like the I (heart) NY), you don't need to explicitly ask, most organisations that own that kind of thing have a web page on their site with quite precise instructions, usually labelled terms-of-use, sometimes it's under the press room label too, and you can usually find them in the footer of any corporate website (they want you to be able to find this stuff, or at least for journalists to be able to, so they're usually not very hidden. Or just put "trademark" into the search engine. Here's HP's for instance: http://www8.hp.com/uk/en/terms-of-use.html#25 - the guidelines are strict, but very precise: Don't pretend you're related to HP, don't use the Logo, don't use HP as a possessive or plural, do use it as an adjective modifying a common noun ("An HP laptop", not "An HP") These are very typical. If you really can't find them, find the contact us link, and ask. If you don't find explicit permission, and don't get an answer, don't use the trademark. Copyright is a whole other ball of wax, but again, if you didn't make it, find out who did, and if they haven't been dead for 70 years or more, and there is not a clearly labelled license alongside your source, like the CC licenses above, then ask. And if they have been dead for 70 years, still best to ask. The biggest mistake most people make about copyright is thinking the "fair use" exception that lets places like Wikipedia use things without asking for permission, will also let you - it doesn't. Fair use does not generally apply to commercial enterprise Wikipedia is a non-profit, you are not. There are exceptions, but it's unlikely you fall into any of them (satire and transformative works, for instance.) Especially song lyrics and poetry snippets get people into trouble all the time. Don't use them without asking, artists right's orgs like BMI and ASCAP go after even small indie authors all the time. The second biggest mistake I see people making, is with images of things that are in public domain. A painting made in 1750 is clearly public domain - but you can't put a painting in your ebook. A photo of it made last year that shows exactly only the work, in a flat and unprocessed manner, is also useable. If it shows the frame and some of the wall behind it? Nope, new work, new copyright, and you have to ask the photographer for permission. So photos of things like architecture and buildings too. Just because something is old, don't assume you can use a photo of it, unless you took it yourself. (FYI, not a lawyer, this is not legal advice. But I have written a lot of software documentation and manuals over many years, and I was the documentation manager of a pretty large software concern. I've been on both sides of this, both having to research trademarks, and having to have lawyers yell at people over compliance. TM owners in particular, are not chasing you down for fun, "vigorously defending" your TM/WM is part of the rules of getting one in the first place, if they don't do it, they risk losing it. Don't take this stuff lightly just because 6 million idiots out there on the internet did - if you're making money, which is your stated intention, they will come after you.)