With words holding as much power as they do it is even more important to ensure that the words that you put in an online space are protected.  Content Protection is often not a concern of the daily online user however Copyright is a topic that should be important to all.

Jamcopy helps in providing a definition for the terms copyright; in its most simplified it can be defined as the right to copy or reproduce work. “It is a collective term for a bundle of economic and moral rights granted by law to creators of original  'works of the mind' in literature, drama, art and music. 

It is important to gain protection for intellectual property (Intellectual Property refers to original creations of the mind such as poetry, choreography, jewellery designs, business signs, and inventions.) The time effort and energy of the creator must be rewarded justly and as a result the reproduction in any form of the created work can be known as copyright infringement.

While on the internet it becomes increasingly difficult to identify the true source of any creation, whether it is and article or a video, it is incumbent on you to find that source and to ensure that you have sufficient permission to recreate, reproduce, or reference the work and also that the original creator is aware of, or given credit for (especially this if it is explicitly stated that you do so)

How do you know if you are in the RED?

If you;

1. Copy the work (whether in part or whole)

2. Issue copies of the work to the public (especially as your own work)

3. Adapting the work whether by translation or dramatisation

4. Authorise another persons (implied or otherwise) to do any of the above acts (owners privilege)

It is important to note that just one act of copying could infringe the copyright of the author of the text, the artist who created the illustrations, the photographer whose photographs appear in the publication as well as the publisher who published the work.

Scanning publications, inserting them into academic journals or making it available on the internet or an intranet or any form of copying of a work - whether in part of whole by an educational institution for the purpose of teaching or giving instruction can be considered copyright infringement.

But something that is important to remember that online doesn’t mean one is exempt from copyright. Laws that exist within normal space with various types of publishing apply equally to material published on the Internet.

It is imperative to remember that the likelihood of committing such an offence significantly increases with online content.  Bloggers, researchers and all others who have been using the World Wide Web as their literary playground beware that you may be infringing on someone’s copyright. 

Additionally a violation can be very simple to avoid, when in doubt ask the author directly, the Internet also opens up the ways and means of communicating, one email may prevent prosecution. There is absolutely nothing wrong is asking permission to reproduce reference or reuse a creators work. Often the only thing required is credit, or a notation of the source to generate traffic to the original page.  Most times creators will be more than happy to allow you to use their work.  Forewarned is to be forearmed.