Re: Web Legal Issues

[Jared Hess <JHess -at- WILCOXASSOC -dot- COM>]

My HTML instructor at the community college where I'm picking up some
continuing education classes said essentially the same thing: You can view
the various HTML structures out there and use them to form your own. Copying
graphics and other copywrited material are obviously on the no-no list.

Jared
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Maxey <Bob_Maxey -at- MTN -dot- 3COM -dot- COM>
To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU <TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU>
Date: Thursday, January 07, 1999 12:08 PM
Subject: Web Legal Issues


>>><snip>
>>>When I created my Web pages, I did not create the browser that allows
>>>anyone to look at source code. Having the ability to look at source code
>>>does not give you the right to lift it and use it as your own.
>Netscape's
>>>browser design does not supercede federal copyright law.
><snip>
>
>The above is an example of a big problem with the Web. If you look at any
>of the hundreds of books written about the Web, the idea of looking at the
>HTML to see how others did something, and then using the same structure and
>ideas is stressed quite a bit. In fact, many books encourage the reader to
>use existing code.
>
>Most books advise that if you visit a page and you like the styles and
>look, simply look at the code and duplicate it. It is encouraged and well
>accepted.
>
>If I visit a page, there is nothing that can prevent me from using the same
>styles, colors, tables, frames and other parts that you use; excluding
>legitimately copyrighted materials, naturally. I can duplicate the look of
>your page EXACTLY, and there is not a blessed thing you can do about it.
>
>HTML is virtually the same thing as reveal and formatting codes used in
>Word Processors. It is a language to describe how things look and behave on
>a page and that is NOT something you can copyright.
>
>As far as the Copyright comment above, you are correct. No product can be
>used to supersede a federal law. Using Meta Tags, formatting, styles is
>part of HTML, and that is not protected.
>
>As far as copyrights on links, word lists, etc., it is not possible. Here
>again, I can use the same list of keywords you might use and I can put the
>same exact list of links on my page and there is nothing you can do. When
>someone puts up a web page, they must follow traditions. They must
>understand what is and is not allowed. Because the web evolved as it has
>evolved, there are certain things that are generally accepted. The fact
>that someone does not like it means nothing.
>
>Bob Maxey
>
>From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000==
>
>

 From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=