Blogging Laws - it Really isn’t the wild wild west

Indeed the internet does have a Wild Wild West feel to it. A lot of it may stem because of the growing informal economy of the internet, and a pervasive lack of knowledge of the legal obligations that come from having so much power in our hands every time we utilize the internet for either personal or business development.

These blogging laws were really quite shocking – for example Deep Linking is a Violation of the Law if not Cited CorrectlyThe one that really may be appreciated by most bloggers or poster on the internet is The Protection of Original Expression – this one has been a bugger for many of a poster or blogger, to see one’s words being utilized by another without credit to you the original author. What many don’t realize is that when we all press Enter on the keyboard and our words become Published, they are now automatically copyrighted and yes, even protected. No
record is necessary to be kept at the Copyright office.

And to top this, bloggers do NOT own the comments on their sites made by third parties – it is actually copyrighted by the author themselves. A Comprehensive terms of service agreement on your site may protect you in this area. Remember you will never have full ownership of the material, but at least you will be able to moderate it “better”

Many of us don’t realize as well that we do have a duty to disclose paid posts and promotions. The “Buzz Advertising”

There are many other great and comprehensive suggestions in the Article from Avia Directory “12 Important U.S. Laws Every Blogger Needs to know”, See link below, but I suggest that you may also consider checking out the EFF Legal Guide for Bloggers.

(1) 12 Important U.S. Laws Every Blogger Needs to Know http://www.avivadirectory.com/blogger-law/