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Geek Culture / Debate: Using RSS feeds on your website is a copyright violation?

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Torrey
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Posted: 19th Jun 2007 02:29
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Like the subject of this thread says, I'd like to have and see some debate on the subject of whether or not using RSS feeds from other sites constitutes a copyright violation?

I've had a civilized short back and forth with a popular guy at Microsoft today, and he seems to think that using an RSS feed on a website that is not of the original author is considered content theft, even if you have a link to the source with the feed item because you're republishing another's copyrighted work.

What's your opinion?

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tha_rami
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Posted: 19th Jun 2007 02:35
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Pff, depends, if you've got written permission to use it, no. If the content is copyrighted, yes. If it is a news feed, no (fair use).

I do think it is okay to use it under the Fair Use policy - so personally, I think it is okay. RSS feeds are available for exactly such use.

However, it can never hurt to send a mail to the webmaster.


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Torrey
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Posted: 19th Jun 2007 03:11
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RSS feeds were created to syndicate content out from your site. This in turn when used properly can generate more visitors to your site, more visitors to the syndicated site, and even up your website in search engines.

Most of the content you see on the internet is copyrighted in some way, but why do some of the content author's have RSS feeds if they don't want the content syndicated? I think the author would barely have a case if they created a big stink about another site using the feed as long as the site using the feed credited and linked to the author's post. The only other way I could see regulated RSS is if the author posted a statement on their website regulating the use of content.

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Josh
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Posted: 20th Jun 2007 09:36
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As per international copyright laws all content available in the public domain of the internet is automatically copyrighted AFAIK.

I wouldn't see a problem if you only displayed the truncated part of the feed on your site, obviously if you're re-posting entire articles then that's a no-no.

Any level headed webmaster will want as much publicity as s/he can get, and if you're requested to take it off, take it off.

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Jess T
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Posted: 20th Jun 2007 10:58
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I always thought that an RSS feed simply showed a header which was linked back to the original article, no?

So, why is that theft? If it is, how are we meant to link to anything on the internet (which has actually been debated in courts and parliment before - are hyperlinks infringing on copyright)?

Personally, syndicating an RSS is fine, all you are doing is linking to another site, and providing an incentive for a user to a site linked to based on the title of an article they posted, which is generally more incentive than your stock-standard 'links' page

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Zappo
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Posted: 20th Jun 2007 15:13
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RSS feeds can be simple titles with a link to the full article, or contain the full articles themselves. It all depends on how they are generated. Personally, if the RSS feed isn't altered in some way (e.g. had the originators details stripped out) I would consider it fine to publish the link on another site. Anyone with any sense puts their Web site or contact details in the RSS feed anyway so its obvious where it came from.
Personally, I would generate my RSS feeds to contain a title with a short intro paragraph and a link to the full article on the Web. Then it wouldn't bother me who hosted links to my RSS feed.
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IanM
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Posted: 20th Jun 2007 16:05
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Why would anyone complain about:
1. Getting a wider audience.
2. Lowering their bandwidth usage to that wider audience.

... ?

I'd say that it was perfectly OK as along as you aren't passing the articles off as your own. As as been said earlier, forwarding the RSS feed is 'fair usage' as it's only a summation and an index to existing articles and doesn't contain the articles themselves.

Now, that said, it might be courteous to let that site know that you wish to pass on their RSS feed.

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GatorHex
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Posted: 20th Jun 2007 16:17 Edited at: 20th Jun 2007 16:24
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Yes depends on the permission of the feed supplier read their TOC. Normaly their intention it to provide more traffic towards themselfs.

Your should be allowed talk about other peoples work as long as they are refrenced for it so don't try to strip out any links back to the original author or whole sale copy stuff you don't have permission for.

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Torrey
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Posted: 22nd Jun 2007 02:01
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The rules of the whole rssetiquette are all over the place. I believe two standard rules should be in place, 1) anyone using rss feeds from another site should make sure they link back to the original source, and 2) the owner of the rss feed should regulate it themselves. Meaning if they only want a portion of the content showing then they should programmatically work it out themselves.

I'm working on a new rss viewer for my website, but it seems that adobe flex builder is producing inconsistent results on every computer I test on.

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