Bytes have Rights™
Going online literally brings a wealth of information to your desktop. Text,
graphics, sounds, video and photographic images can be easily accessed,
copied and stored.
But, with all of this information available, it can be difficult to determine
if someone owns the work you just downloaded or wish to upload. A number
of online services offer guidelines for fair use of copyrighted material
and provide consumers with the service's own content. While most people
might recognize the work of a famous author as "intellectual property"
and would know not to use it commercially, the same might not hold for a
sound clip, a picture or a less well-known piece of text. Respect for a
creator's work is very important. The best rule of thumb is, "If in
doubt, don't use it." Remember: Bytes have Rights ™ --respect intellectual
property online.
