Look, I am sick and tired of this bullshit being flung around about copyright.
Yes, BULLSHIT.
Everyone here complains about how bad the MainStream Media does their jobs and when a few journalist do their jobs correctly, guess what?
Proper Credit is not given.
Fair Use depends on proper credit being given to the creative source of the media being used.
Since people here find other people's work worth passing off inside their own wrapper, people should learn how to credit works by journalists, be they written or photos, properly.
Let's start here:
This is how to properly credit a copyrighted photo:
<picture>
Credited Source, Photographer's Name
This is not some Chicago Rules of Style, this is mandatory for each photo unless the entire set is from a single photographer.
Examples:
ASSOCIATED PRESS, Cliff Owen
ASSOCIATED PRESS, Jens Meyer
ASSOCIATED PRESS, Mikhail Metzel
Each photographer must be credited with their work, not some blanket, "These be AP Photo" statement. This is not only a disservice to actual photojournalists, it is a violation of copyright law.
Moving on to citing works hyperlinked online:
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
.... In Prague this morning, Presidents Obama and Medvedev put their signatures on a new nuclear arms treaty, the most significant in nearly two decades...
...Meeting here in the heart of a once-divided Europe, the two leaders put aside the acrimony that has characterized Russian-American ties in recent years as they agreed to bring down their arsenals and restore an inspection regime that expired in December. Along the way, they sidestepped unresolved disputes over missile defense and other issues.
WRONG. But thanks for only lifting the standard four paragraphs.
Proper citation:
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED....
By Steve Benen, Washington Monthly
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/...
In Prague this morning, Presidents Obama and Medvedev put their signatures on a new nuclear arms treaty, the most significant in nearly two decades.
Meeting here in the heart of a once-divided Europe, the two leaders put aside the acrimony that has characterized Russian-American ties in recent years as they agreed to bring down their arsenals and restore an inspection regime that expired in December. Along the way, they sidestepped unresolved disputes over missile defense and other issues.
"When the United States and Russia are not able to work together on big issues, it is not good for either of our nations, nor is it good for the world," Mr. Obama said as his words echoed through a majestic, gilded hall in the famed Prague Castle. "Together, we have stopped the drift, and proven the benefits of cooperation. Today is an important milestone for nuclear security and nonproliferation, and for U.S.-Russia relations."
Mr. Medvedev called the treaty signing "a truly historic event" that will "open a new page" in Russian-American relations. "What matters most is this is a win-win situation," he said. "No one stands to lose from this agreement. I believe this is a typical feature of our cooperation. Both parties have won." (emphasis mine)
Do not blind link to the default website /, but to the actual permalink of the article from which you are lifting content. And for goodness sakes, give the author your fair using at least a little credit, like their name. And the source of the material, in this case the Washington Monthly.
And if you change the intent of their piece, by making a paragraph bold for instance, make sure to make that obvious.
Why do I care?
Because there is a good chance I might know one of these journalists you are lifting from and they deserve credit for getting out there and doing their jobs. I understand it's a new day and age of media, but that doesn't mean you can wholescale loot other people's work without proper credit.
Because sooner or later, you are gonna loot mine.
And trust me, you don't want that.
Sorry to be a bit aggro about this matter, but this is my industry, which is hurting as it is, and I will not let people tell me what my industry standards are when it comes to proper credit concerning copyrighted material.
In the future, this should not be an issue for anyone involved, since the proper technique has now been demonstrated.
Peace and have a good weekend.