Copyright, etc.

Sir Kohran · Post by **Sir Kohran** » Wed May 09, 2007 8:40 pm

One thing I've been wondering about is whether we are actually allowed to use text from published books with MoCs. I don't mean a line or two, I mean when people set out to illustrate the entire book with Lego. When Bruce illustrated LOTR, he used some of the book dialogue with his own descriptions of what was going on. Brendan Powell Smith has said about the Brick Testament that he uses text from various different versions of the Bible to avoid copyright issues. So how far do our 'rights' to published works go? What can and what can't we do?

Prince Imdol · Post by **Prince Imdol** » Wed May 09, 2007 8:48 pm

As long as you say it is from which book, yes its aloud. Like if you say its from LOTR its perfectly fine.

P.I

ZIGGY! · Post by **ZIGGY!** » Wed May 09, 2007 11:20 pm

Where do you get that from? I don't think legally you're allowed to completely put up huge paragraphs and chapters vbut I don't have a real clue, to be honest.

~Ziggy, who wonders why Anthony has dubed you noob while I was away...

Prince Imdol · Post by **Prince Imdol** » Wed May 09, 2007 11:58 pm

As long as you say its from someone elses book, its fine. our not plagiarizing.

P.I

Lonan · Post by **Lonan** » Thu May 10, 2007 4:45 pm

This is not legal advice, but generally as long as you credit the source and aren't using it for COMMERCIAL purposes, you're probably not going to anger the gods of intellectual property. Now, if you were putting the entire book online so people didn't have to buy it, then you'd have a problem. Or, if you were posting things on a website and charging people fees, selling a load of advertising, etc. they'd probably come after you. Things like fan fiction or models of your favorite characters probably aren't going to result in a lawsuit. Corporations have seen what happens when they Megablocks on their internet fanbase. "cough"Metallica"cough"