Legal Question in Business Law in California

Re: possible copyright infringment or defamation

Copyright infringement and defamation sound very unlikely. A greater possibility is trademark infringement. Another remote possibility is cyberpiracy. As long as you are not making any commerical use of the site, not charging any money or doing any business or depriving anyone of business or intercepting or diverting someone's commercial e-mail or web inquiry traffic, you risk is pretty low. Think in terms of what damages you can be sued for. If no one is damaged, and you intend no harm, and operate low-key, your risks are also very low. I'd go ahead and do it under those circumstances, but if anyone complains, stop and apologize.

Re: possible copyright infringment or defamation

Why don't you consider requesting permission from the webmasters of each website that you plan to use? Many, if not most, would probably agree to let you link to their sites if your intentions are truly only for reference purposes. Furthermore, many websites actually pay for any purchases resulting from links originating from a portal on your website. I have clients who make a substantial income just from providing links to their favorite websites. The downside is that permission may be refused and then you will have already alerted them of your intent to use the site. You must weigh the risks versus the benefits. I tend to err on the side of caution and therefore would only use the links with permission.

***No Legal Services or Attorney Client Relationship - Although this email may provide information concerning potential legal issues, it is not a substitute for legal advice from qualified counsel. You should not and are not authorized to rely on this email as a source of legal advice. Until a formal Retainer Agreement is executed, any communication between you and Dyson & Associates cannot and does not create any attorney-client relationship between you and Dyson & Associates.***