Hyperlink only with permission granted

• Most website pages have content protected by copyright.

• Facts embodied in content are not subject to copyright protection, while the authorship is.

• Via copyright protection, the copyright holder has the exclusive right to make copies of the work and to distribute copies of the work, among other exclusive rights.

• Hyperlinking to another's website, particularly to an internal page within the website, is probably a distribution of a copy of a protected work without permission.

• On the practical level, some website owners have a strong preference for site-entry through the pages it selects.

• Even websites operated by departments and agencies of the federal government want hyperlinkers to clearly advise users that the link leads to a government page, and not one of their own.

Hyperlinking to a website's entry page is still an issue in flux.  Most website owners want the publicity, or we wouldn't be out on the Internet.  Delighted with some of such hyperlinks, but not comfortable with others.  The jury is still out.

other topics - who protects copyrights, trademark internet issues, domain names, patent it or not, naming and branding

questions, inquiries - contact the firm (all contact modes) or call 312.419.8055
 

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