[KathrynJaneway]

Just because I'm wondering...

IF members were to link to youtube videos containing copywrited materials, would these then be reported and taken down?

On youtube you can find a wide range of thngs from great fan vids showing wonder creativity, nitpicks videos, short clips of things from episodes, and full on episodes. I believe there is a huge area of ethical use of someone elses work between the fan vids and someone posting the whole episode.

Reason why I'm asking is I'd like to poke fun at a big oops where a mouse pointer is clearly visible in an episode, but I don't want to get that video taken down and that poster's youtube account banned.

I'm also a big believer in being open, and knowing what the consequences are. If I speed, I know that the fine is $126 + my insurance will go up. If posting youtube links will get vids yanked, I would like to know this so I can not link to them. If posting them is likely ok, then I'd like to know because I know where the good, funny videos are.

Thanks. I hope this question is ok to ask.

[omegaman]

I'm not sure of the full legalities but most stuff is copyrighted and requires permission before you can use it in any way shape or form.

[Elizadolots]

Well...Star Trek as a franchise has been very tolerant of fan fiction use because they seem to understand that it is a sign of love. JK Rowling is similarly tolerant and even encouraging of Harry Potter fan fic...it's definitely a "grey" area and the best thing to do is exactly what is being done: solicite an opinion from the staff.

KJ, if you don't get an answer in a day or two, you might send STRedshirt a PM...he's been very responsive but he can't be everywhere at all times....

[ST Redshirt]

I sent the post to the Legal Dept. yesterday. Hoping for a response today.

[Zardoz]

Originally Posted by ST Redshirt

I sent the post to the Legal Dept. yesterday. Hoping for a response today.

Cool, thank you very much!

[DNA-1842]

Any response then?

[Zardoz]

Nope.

[Deusdies]

I think that should be YouTube's issue. I mean, you're linking content hosted publicly on other website. So, it's YouTube mods who should deal with copyrighted material, and, of course, the YouTube "uploaders" ought not to upload copyrighted material.

[Elizadolots]

The problem is you don't want to point a big giant "copyright infringement" arrow at someone if you have enjoyed their work. It's the same reason I won't post links to any fan fic, no matter how much I might think people would enjoy it. It would just suck if the reward for entertaining me was to be charged with copyright infringement.

[MissionTrek08]

While true, Eliza, on the other hand YouTube isn't exactly not garnering attention of its own. Often material which violates any such policies gets removed from play-ability rather quickly if the offended party makes the request.

If a video stays online at YouTube and isn't tagged for any such violation, then wouldn't it be deemed safe for linking? It is a good question for mods... in that, is it our responsibility as users or this board's responsibility to police another site's non-violation policies?

I agree with the rule here not to link directly to unauthorized material, that's a no-brainer. But if a YouTube video clip exists which hasn't been labeled unauthorized already, I don't see how it can be against board policy. I'd think some 'reasonable standard' should allow users here to link to videos which already give NO indication of violating any board policy on their own merit.

That's akin to 'due diligence' or such, I'd think.