Lets say someone wanted to make a fansite or sell fanmade products for a particular fanbase over internet. What would the legal ramifications be if they did not get copyright permission and how do you get said consent? How likely is it to be sued for a fan promoting and or selling fan products? Does anyone know anything about copy-written laws over the internet?

You should consult a lawyer.

 

 

You cannot legally create a "fan site" using copyrighted photographs without the expressed permission of the photographer or copyright owner.

 

http://www.rightsforartists.com/copyright.html

 

I would imagine this extends to items with original copyrighted images as well. If the images are your own creation, as long as they are not exact copies of trademarks, logos or said copyright images you are probably in safer water.

IANAL, but I think for trademarks even if it's not an exact copy there can be a problem.

If you're sick, consult a doctor. For this, I'll echo EdEarl's advice to consult a lawyer.

 

There's probably some good boilerplate language you could use to secure the rights to use what others join your site to post. This sounds like it has the potential to be a critical issue for you, so I'd make sure to get professional advice.

You need to consult lawyers for each jurisdiction in which you will operate.

Good luck.

You need to consult lawyers for each jurisdiction in which you will operate.

Good luck.

Wouldn't internet cover all of them? Since its international.

Get a lawyer that specializes in international intellectual property laws.

Get a lawyer that specializes in international intellectual property laws.

As a lawyer I have to stand up for the humanity of my profession (I understand this may be contested) - please could we rephrase as

 

 

Get a lawyer that who specializes in international intellectual property laws..

 

And frankly that is gonna be ruinously expensive. First off I would chat to others who run websites that cater to a similar sort of fan-run website intended for other fans. Secondly speak to those who own the copyright of the images etc that you wish to reproduce; if they are happy for you to go ahead then the need for costly advice can be avoided, and if they are unhappy then it is highly unlikely that the sort of legal-team a fan would want to pay for would be able even to contest the copy-right holder's lawyer's first sally forth. Thirdly, maybe have a word with the guys at wikia - there is a lot of copy-righted content on the individual wikis hosted there. I am pretty sure not all will be there with the explicit consent of the copy-right holder - so worth exploring what a facilitator like wikia could tell you.

Country matters here more so than in most cases.

 

US has a "fair use" provision. Other countries have different laws in place though.

 

Main issue would be if you are making money off it. Second issue would be if the copyright owner feels they have an obligation to defend their copyright regardless. Third issue is if you and the copyright owner are in the same country.

 

As it sounds like you are thinking of making money with this you would be well advised to go to a professional or at least jump over to one of the "ask a lawyer" sites.

 

As a lawyer I have to stand up for the humanity of my profession (I understand this may be contested) - please could we rephrase as

 

 

lol

 

Images from the TV show V just popped into my head.

Edited January 30, 201411 yr by Endy0816

Images from the TV show V just popped into my head.

 

I'll settle for alien over inanimate - I had forgotten V. I really liked it - must have been when I was ten or so when the original came out (the one with Freddy playing a goodie!)

As a lawyer I have to stand up for the humanity of my profession (I understand this may be contested) - please could we rephrase as

 

 

 

And frankly that is gonna be ruinously expensive. First off I would chat to others who run websites that cater to a similar sort of fan-run website intended for other fans. Secondly speak to those who own the copyright of the images etc that you wish to reproduce; if they are happy for you to go ahead then the need for costly advice can be avoided, and if they are unhappy then it is highly unlikely that the sort of legal-team a fan would want to pay for would be able even to contest the copy-right holder's lawyer's first sally forth. Thirdly, maybe have a word with the guys at wikia - there is a lot of copy-righted content on the individual wikis hosted there. I am pretty sure not all will be there with the explicit consent of the copy-right holder - so worth exploring what a facilitator like wikia could tell you.

That was point of asking it here. I figured there might be some programmers/web designers here who maybe possibly had a website.