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Screen--grabbing fun

Warewullf

12:42 / 10.02.05

Need some legal information regarding making screen grabs of TV programs in anticipation of some...unpleasantness...

Here's the situation:

In the UK, suppose you make a screen-grab (take a still image) from, let's say, an episode of "Eastenders."
You put this image on your Eastenders website. Let's assume that you don't "brand" the image in any way with your website logo.
Someone takes this image and uses it on their Eastenders website.
Aside from being bad netiquette, do you have any legal right to tell them to remove it?
Do you have any legal claim to the image?
Do you actually own the image, even though it's taken directly from a BBC programme and of a character they own the rights to?
Does it make any difference if you do brand the image with your website URL?

Smoothly

13:39 / 10.02.05

No, it's a breech of copyright whether you add anything to the image or not.

Smoothly

13:48 / 10.02.05

And by that I mean it's a breech of the BBC's copyright. The first person ('You') is in breech for using a copyrighted image in the first place, and the second person who nicked the image from you is in the same breech. You've got no right to tell them to take it down because you had no right to use the image in the first place.
However, it might be worth saying that the Beeb are unlikely to be bothered about a small fan-site using unauthorised grabs.

Warewullf

14:54 / 10.02.05

Cheers for that. I kind of figured the BBC wouldn't be arsed chasing down people who make grabs but there is a certain section of fans that get very possessive over thigs like that and I was just checking that they, in fact, have no legal legs to stand on and are, in fact, being gits.

Smoothly

15:13 / 10.02.05

Probably being gits, wolf. 'Course I don't know for sure, but I'd be surprised if the BBC had granted them permission. Ask them. If they're puffing themselves up over it, you might find that question has a suitably deflationary effect.

■

16:58 / 10.02.05

However, it might be worth saying that the Beeb are unlikely to be bothered about a small fan-site using unauthorised grabs.

Errrm... Heard about how Phil Redmond sued the Grange Hill fansite? I'm sure no-one would mind too much for a small site, though.

And it's "breach". "Breech" means going in or out backwards. (Sorry, professional niggle)

Smoothly

19:14 / 10.02.05

Errrm... Heard about how Phil Redmond sued the Grange Hill fansite?

Um, no. That's a good point, devastatingly well illustrated. Still, I'll be following that story with interest now. (And I can't help but wish GH Online all the luck in the world.)

Nice catch on 'breech' too. I'm not having a good day.

■

21:30 / 10.02.05

There, there. [Soothing noises]

Warewullf

11:26 / 11.02.05

Hrmm. Reminds me of when Marvel shut down most fan-sites and said they could only use pics from a pre-approved gallery of images.

Whatever happened with that?

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