This is my first post! Webmaster-Talk is the most helpful site I've been to for rookies like myself. I hope to bring intelligent questions to the table.

Why isn't there a forum for Internet law? Is there somewhere on this site I'm not looking that can be a resource for Internet law? Now that I'm finally acting on my ideas, I need to know a few things before I start designing my sites.

1. How does one get permission to use other site's content?
2. Can we use code from other sites that doesn't include original images, etc.?
3. What are the first steps to set up an online business?

Any advice would help.

1. By asking. It's simple but it's true...ask and if it's okay, they'll let you take it.

The one exception I've found in general is retailers who sell things on behalf of manufacturers. Since the manufacturer profits in the end, the retailer is not only allowed to take whatever they want, but manufacturers often have dealer network sites allowing the retailers to do just that.

2. Code, there really isn't anything stopping anyone from stealing it. Images, if they're public domain or you bought/acquired the rights to them, are okay...otherwise, no.

3. Plan, plan, plan and when you're done, plan some more. It's the same as any other business...it's just that the medium is different. Everyone thinks online businesses are so different than offline businesses, but while they present certain different challenges, the core ideals remain the same.

And welcome. Way to jump in with both feet!

1. I guess I'll just have to find out how to ask them. I've heard of this thing called email I think everyone should look into. No really, getting the rights to images or streaming video seems like something that would be more difficult than just asking. Say I wanted to get the rights to "Loose Change," do the creators of the film get paid per click, or do they sell the rights to Google?

2. I'm not looking to steal anyone's hard work. However, saving a page as a HTML document has been a valuble tool to learn how the pros write. What do you think of WYSIWYG design software? Are the pages created by these programs as effective for search engines?

3. I took many a business class at the University of Colorado. I thought there might be a separate classification for online business. I ended up being a film major, so you can understand my need to question.

4. Has anyone ever bought the rights to an online video/document/image? What's the going rate for something like that, if any?

You might have more luck in these forums:

http://forum.freeadvice.com/forumdisplay.php?f=10

http://forum.freeadvice.com/forumdisplay.php?f=3

Way to drive people from WT!

Mad Willsy,

Isn't the point to help people to the best of our ability and if we can't direct them to somwhere that they can get the help they need?

One thing That I can add:

People want to start successful businesses on the web over night. It can be done. But if you want to make it happen quick you need to hire professionals that know what they are doing to get the job done. And, when I say professionals I mean the 2 of the top quotes. The one for $4k or $3.5K not the one for $300. Plus you need to get an seo that really knows what he is doing. And then you need real marketing knowledge person. Either yourself or your web designer. Most web designers are not good Marketers. (Don't believe me, visit 100 web pages and count how many call to action spots you see...If you see 4 I'll be surprised.)

You can do it all yourself as many do. However, there is a learning curve. Expect it to take a few years, not a few months. If you want to code your own site that is great, but remember, most of us have been doing this for a long time and we will admit that we thought we knew what we were doing our first year, and now after many moons, we admit that we have so much to learn!

Business is business. If you can't sell off line, you can't sell online. Conversely, if you can sell offline doesn't mean that you will be successful online.

Many marketing guidelines carry over to the web. But just as creating a piece for a magazine is completely different than creating a piece for a television spot, to be successful on the web you need to learn the medium as an advertising vehicle.

My 2 cents.

As far as Internet Law. Not really any different than if you were publishing a book, or a DVD. Content is content. Protection is pretty much the same. Copyright is copyright.

I'm not driving anyone away from WT ! I directed the OP to a LEGAL ADVICE forum, a site that is moderated by lawyers... which we are not. You want LEGAL advice, you go to a lawyer.. not a web designer.

Just to reiterate what LadynRed has advised.

Yes, when you need legal advice you get an attorney. And, to push this just a bit farther, you need to get a lawyer that is more than familiar with the legal aspects of our industry. Not every lawyer is versed in copyright law, or in media development, for instance. I guess what I am saying is that you shouldn't just open the phone book and pick a name . Get the referral of an attorney specializing in media from someone you trust.

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I do want to also say that when it comes to copyright law. Do learn as much as you can. Don't get me wrong, I am not disagreeing with LadynRed, but I also feel that we cannot contact an attorney with every question that comes up about copyright issues. Its not too difficult if you apply yourself to learning it. Don't take anything for granted, and you can't just use your *common sense.* But you can learn it well enough to do your job. You must know it if you are going to continue in this business.

I also feel that we cannot contact an attorney with every question that comes up about copyright issues. Its not too difficult if you apply yourself to learning it.

I agree ! The basics of most of copywrite law is all over the web from reliable sources.