Can I use texts from books for my website?
May 21, 2022 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Alice Falk
Dear copyright lawyer,
My name is Mia Voss and I run a website where I write about various topics. I am looking for interesting content for my site and am considering using texts from books. I am wondering if legally I am allowed to use text passages or whole paragraphs from books on my website without violating copyright laws.
I am aware that texts in books are subject to copyright protection and that using copyrighted content without the author's permission can have legal consequences. However, I am unsure if it is possible to use texts from books for my website if, for example, I attribute the source or rephrase the texts in my own words.
I want to ensure that I comply with the law and do not commit copyright infringements. Therefore, it would be helpful to know if it is legally allowed to use texts from books on my website and if so, under what conditions this is possible. Are there specific regulations or exceptions in copyright law that allow me to quote or paraphrase texts from books without breaking the law?
I would greatly appreciate it if you could assist me and provide possible solutions or recommendations to ensure that I am legally compliant when using texts from books on my website.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Mia Voss
Dear Ms. Voss,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the use of texts from books on your website. As a copyright lawyer, I can assist you and explain the legal framework for this.
In general, texts in books are protected by copyright, which means that the author has the sole right to decide on the use, distribution, and exploitation of their works. This means that without the author's permission, you usually cannot use text passages or entire paragraphs from books on your website, as this would constitute a copyright infringement.
However, there are exceptions in copyright law that allow you to quote or paraphrase texts from books without breaking the law. For example, the right to quote is enshrined in copyright law, allowing you to quote short passages from a book as long as you provide the source and embed the quote in your own context. The quote should serve the purpose of explaining or commenting on a fact.
If you wish to use entire paragraphs or longer text passages from books, you should definitely seek the author's permission. Alternatively, you could rephrase the texts in your own words to avoid directly violating copyright. Nevertheless, it is advisable to seek legal advice in any case to protect yourself.
To ensure that you are within the legal framework when using texts from books on your website, I recommend that you thoroughly inform yourself about the legal framework in copyright law and seek professional help if needed. This way, you can ensure that you comply with applicable law and avoid copyright infringements.
I hope this information has been helpful, and I am available for any further questions.
Best regards,
Alice Falk
Copyright Lawyer
