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Question
QUESTION: hello--joe from CT--if one is creating a newsletter, and reprintng all or part of an article from another source, is source acknowledgement sufficient, or is some type of prior permission needed?
ANSWER: Under copyright law, you must have permission to reprint something. In other words, the owner of the copyright has a right to control all copies. Acknowledging the source is not sufficient.
There is a "fair use" exception for a small excerpt/quote, but "how small" is a more complex issue.
In short, if you are quoting more than a sentence, you must have permission.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: so that would apply to ANY source, including website, magazine, newspaper, etc?..also, what about just "summarizing" said article?
That would apply to any source, including website, magazine, newspaper, etc. For more information, see http://www.minnesotalaw.info/can-i-copy-another-bloggers-text/
You can generally summarize a long article in 2-3 sentences without violating a copyright. However, you cannot reiterate the main points in an article using your own words. Put it this way: If your summary piques people's interest in the article, that's fine. If your summary replaces the article so people don't need to read it, that may be (probably is) copyright infringement.
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Answers by Expert:
A. Hall, Minnesota Attorney
Expertise
As a licensed Minnesota attorney, I can answer questions involving Minnesota law in the following areas: business ownership issues, forming a business, contracts, employment, securities, copyrights, trademarks, patents, licensing, trade secrets, unfair trade practices, shareholder disputes, tax law, M&A, corporate law, general business law, and resolving disputes through negotiation, arbitration, or litigation. I can provide general information for these topics in geographic locations outside Minnesota.
Experience
Aaron Hall is a licensed attorney, admitted to practice law in Minnesota state courts and the U.S. Federal District Court in Minnesota.
Aaron Hall's experience includes service at the law firms of Fredrikson & Byron, Morrison Fenske & Sund, Foley & Mansfield, and Henningson & Snoxell. Aaron Hall also served as a judicial extern under the Honorable Paul A. Magnuson, United States District Court Judge, and as an adjunct professor at Concordia University teaching Introduction to Business Law, Business Law for Marketing Professionals, and Internet Law for Marketing Professionals courses.
Aaron served in a variety of appointed positions for city, county, and state government entities, including the Burnsville City Board of Appeals, the 35W Solutions Alliance, the Minnesota Department of Revenue Property Tax Assessment and Classification Reform Study Group, and the Heart of the City Steering Committee. In 2007, the Minnesota Justice Foundation recognized Aaron for providing over 200 hours of pro bono legal services during the year.
Organizations
American Bar Association
Minnesota Bar Association
Hennepin County Bar Association
Minnesota Small Business
Publications
Associated Press, Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, Duluth News Tribune, William Mitchell Law Review
Education/Credentials
Aaron was awarded his Juris Doctor degree cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law, where he served on the William Mitchell Law Review. He was recognized on the Deans List for outstanding academics and received the CALI Awards of Excellence in Corporations and Alternative Dispute Resolutions courses. Aaron served as President of the Business Law Society and coordinated the establishment of the Corporate Appellate Law Moot Court. He was awarded his Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing Management and Innovation summa cum laude from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Awards and Honors
Ten Outstanding Minnesotans, Minnesota Jaycees
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