May I quote excerpts from newspaper articles in my blog?
July 15, 2023 | 50,00 EUR | answered by Johann Kock
Dear lawyer,
I run a blog where I regularly write about current topics. In order to make my posts more interesting, I would like to quote excerpts from newspaper articles. However, I am unsure if I am legally allowed to do so.
Background information: In my blog, I cover various topics in politics, culture, and society. I often refer to current events discussed in newspapers. To provide my readers with a better overview and to support my arguments, I would like to insert short quotes from newspaper articles.
Current situation: So far, I have refrained from using direct quotes as I am not sure if it is permissible. However, I notice that this sometimes makes my posts less impactful and my readers may miss important background information.
Concerns: I am worried that by quoting newspaper articles, I may violate copyright or media laws. I do not want to risk any legal consequences and therefore wonder if I can use excerpts from newspaper articles in my blog at all.
Question about possible solutions: Is there a way for me to safely and legally quote excerpts from newspaper articles in my blog? What legal considerations do I need to keep in mind and how can I ensure that I do not infringe on any copyrights?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Ingo Schenkenberg
Dear Mr. Schenkenberg,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding citing newspaper articles in your blog. It is understandable that you have concerns about possible legal consequences and want to ensure that you do not violate any copyrights. Indeed, there are legal frameworks that you must adhere to if you wish to use excerpts from newspaper articles in your blog.
In general, citing newspaper articles in your blog is allowed as long as you follow certain rules. In Germany, there is the right to quote, which allows you to quote short excerpts from protected works such as newspaper articles to support a discussion or argument, for example. However, the quote must be embedded in its own context and be recognizable as such. It is important that you clearly indicate the source of the quote by stating the author's name, the title of the article, the publication date, and the newspaper.
Furthermore, you should ensure that you do not quote more than is necessary for the specific purpose. This means that you should only quote as much as is necessary for your argument or contribution. Avoid copying entire paragraphs or articles, as this could be considered plagiarism or unauthorized reproduction.
To ensure that you do not violate any copyrights, I recommend obtaining permission from the rights holder if in doubt. Often, newspapers offer the opportunity to purchase licenses for the use of their content. Alternatively, you could also use freely available sources or rely on publicly accessible information to support your arguments.
In summary, citing newspaper articles in your blog is generally allowed as long as you adhere to the rules mentioned above. Make sure to correctly attribute the source, not quote more than necessary, and obtain permission if in doubt. This way, you can ensure that you are legally on the safe side and provide your readers with well-founded information.
I hope that this information was helpful to you and I am available for any further questions you may have.
Best regards,
Johann Kock
