Can I Legally Give Away Copys Of A Speech?

[ThomWV]

I have a copy of Al Gore's speech on our Constitutional crisis, given on January 16, 2006 in Constitution hall. I was there but I did not record the copy I have here, it came from some internet site or another.

I would not mind posting a copy of it to some webspace I have so people could copy it if they wanted to but I'm not sure if it might be automatically covered by some sort of copyright or some such. Anyone know about such things?

[Ioo]

1. Is it posted on his website?

You should start there, I am sure there is some sort of CR notice there.

[LostinVA]

2. It's protected by copright... unless he gives permission, you're breaking

the law.

[Dogmudgeon]

7. Wrong -- but worth considering

As news, it can be copied freely if no profit is made.

This has been through the courts a dozen times in the last few years alone. Where the DU Rules contradict it, rest assured they're for an extra measure of protection from predatory right-wingers who take advantage of "internet lawyering", the obsession some people have to enforce the law -- any law -- without charge.

IOW, it may be legal to copy a speech in the news, but it may also cost $50,000 to defend a website -- like DU -- against a SLAPP suit.

On DU, we agree to make sure to limit our excerpts to four paragraphs (occasional small overages, in context of the quote, are also okay). In Real Life, consider your own specific legal exposure. A blogger has just about nothing to worry about. A broke blogger has absolutely nothing to worry about. A profitable website needs to keep the lawyers' phone number handy. Sad but true!

--p!

[RazzleDazzle]

13. well if it's been thru the courts, give us some cites and/or links

'cause frankly I don't automatically believe it -- not saying you're lying, just that you may be confused.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Contact whoever sponsored the forum

I'm sure it's not hard to get permission.

[harpo]

4. I wouldn't trust it unless they approved it...unless you recorded it

[Ian David]

6. It'll be okay to post it online because Al Gore invented the internet n/t

[harpo]

8. I have a buddy who always says that...al gore invented xyz...

we need to nip that crap in the bud if he runs in 08

[Ian David]

10. Al Gore invented that, too. n/t

[Hamlette]

5. you might if you can argue "fair use"

you can reproduce/give away copyrighted materials if it is considered to be "fair use". The four principles of fair use are:

1. the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
2. the nature of the copyrighted work;
3. amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
4. the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

I think you are out on #3 but you'd pass the other three. You have to have all 4. Hence, we can post 4 paragraphs of an article here on DU.

[Eric J in MN]

9. Martin Luther King's relatives sue over the use of his speeches, but

it seems unlikely to me that you'll be sued for posting an Al Gore speech.

[Eric J in MN]

11. I posted the text of an Al Gore speech at "Move Left" and no one

complained that I was violating his copyright.

http://www.moveleft.com/moveleft_essay_2004_05_31_al_gore_on_bush_and_the_rule_of_law.asp

I doubt you'll receive a copyright complaint from Al Gore or his attorney if you post one of his speeches, even if theoretically he owns the copyright.

[Vincardog]

12. Why not just Post a link to the site where the speech is?