A Potentially Stupid Question...

H

Hit The Books

Models For The Programme
Joined
Aug 19, 2007
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UK
...but here goes 🙂

I'd quite like to set up a little site about Buffy. Now, it's not going to be anything major and it's not going to have any video or audio or even screenshots on it* - I just wanted a place where I could write my thoughts and such about the show; one step up from a blog in a way.

But then I encountered some articles online about how Fox is quite C&D-happy with fan sites of their shows. Some articles mentioned how they mostly went after ones with copyright infringements but others were a little bit more ambiguous.

Just wondering whether they've been known to go after the kinda sites I described before?

And yes, I recognise that this is probably a ridiculous question to ask but I have a touch of OCD and, I'm beginning to think, Automatic Negative Thought Syndrome.

Thanks!

*I was considering a 3D sketch I've done of the outside of the library.
 
I thought it was mainly with posting things like transcripts and images etc, but I haven't heard as much of this going on since the show has now ended.

I can't see it being a problem as there are still loads of Buffy/Angel sites on the net. 🙂
 
I remember they went after one site one time, because they took out some kind of anti-fox ad in the mainstream press, or something.

There used to be this relatively popular site, I think it was called SpoilerSpike, or something like that. They went after it after the series had ended for some reason. They wanted him to take down all copyright materials. He didn't want to dig through his archives looking for anything that might be considered infringing, so he just shut the site down.

There used to be this protest site against Fox for what they saw as it's attacks on fandom. I don't know if it's still up. I can't even remember where it is.

I don't see how they could go after you for what you propose. There's something called fair use. The best and most accessible explanation of that I ever saw was this hilarious YouTube clip that used clips of Disney cartoons to explain it. Here's a link.

YouTube - A Fair(y) Use Tale

There is something called a DMCA takedown request, or something like that though. As I understand it all they have to do is allege copyright infringement, and the infringing materials have to be removed until the issue is dealt with in court. There's a lot of controversy about that.
 
Thank you both for the info! I'm going to go ahead and plan it for now and get me a small piece of webspace 🙂

And that video - just incredible! I do not envy the team who put that together, but very informative thanks.

EDIT: And put a disclaimer up... those seem to be the done thing as well.
 
I just thought I'd warn everyone, FOX is actively at it again on YouTube. Me and a friend of mine both had Buffy fan-credits removed from YouTube because of claims by Fox.
 
B
Blondie Bear
There seems to be a lot of that going on lately.
yeah ive noticed them taking down buffy clips. i would put some on my myspace from youtube and then find they were deleted a few days later.
 
I know that Joss on several occasions in the pre-Season 8 past encouraged fans to "get their Buffy fix," by using the Internet. That would indicate to me that he had no problem with others using his creations, at least within certain bounds.

On a similar note, prior to Disney's animated "Tarzan" movie, Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc, the owner of the franchise, got a court order demanding the removal of several websites' material, primarily fan fiction.
 
I'd have thought Fox would be quite happy for a breach of their copyrights, the prospect of taking everything you've got, selling it and making more money for themselves, why would they be unhappy about that ?.
 
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