Copyright Infringement - Unauthorized Use of Another Person's Work

Many people are aware of the music or movie industry complaining about people downloading and sharing music or movie files online. I remember taping a song played on the radio only to go to the music store to by the recording. Or taping a TV program while away so I can watch it when I get home. I did not make copies to sell or distribute to cut into the profits of the copyright holders, so I did not abuse the right of use. This is unethical and illegal. There is another form of copyright infringement that has been thriving on the Internet. Unethical people are using source code, images and text contents from websites without permission. This is also illegal.

If you do not create original work, you must obtain permission to use someone else's work. Microsoft clip art is for personal use on your home computer and cannot be used for websites. You cannot distribute, sell, display or alter other people's work without permission. If you do not know who the copyright holder is, you can contact the website owner or the web designer of the website where you saw the work. If you see an article of interest to your target audience, you should link to the article instead of copying it and using it on your website. Your website should contain as much unique contents as possible.

It has been brought to my attention that someone copied an article from my website and reworded it for his website. Another person copied source code and entire web pages and altered them for her website. She changed the copyright information to make it appear that she created hers first, though I can prove otherwise. If I didn't have email, long distance phone calls and other proof as I do in this case, I could prove it with website backup copies on cds or go to the Wayback Machine which archives previous versions of websites. Though incomplete, it is better than nothing.

I work hard to provide original contents for my website and do not appreciate people stealing my work and accepting credit for it. Other people email me to request permission and I usually give it. I am a web designer and would like to get paid for my work or at least receive credit for it. So what can I do about this? I can send a Cease and Desist email to the web designer to stop using my work and remove it within 30 days or else. I have the right to sue and be compensated, but I would probably be happy just to see the work removed or to receive payment and an apology.

If you see my work on someone else's website and they do not have my copyright information on it, please notify me and/or send them the link to this article. There are places for free articles, clip art and source code, but please read and abide by the rules for use. If anyone ever took credit for something you completed, you know how frustrating this can be. If you are a website owner or web designer who wishes to use my work, I will require compensation. Free use may be granted to non-profit organizations, educators or personal websites upon my approval. It is sad that I had to write this article, but everyone must be aware of the rules.

Yvette Kuhns, Power Pages Web Design, July 7, 2003

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