Legal Question in Technology Law in Minnesota

Is it illegal to link to copyrighted materials?

I have a website, --WebSite Removed--, and we link to a lot of sites that provide copyrighted TV-Shows (Example: ''The Office''). We do not upload the vidoes, nor do we ask people to. We just provide the service/resource to our users. The service/resource being, we hunt down the links, put them into an easy formate for them to find/view what they are looking for. We are also thinking about adding links to full length movies.

Is this illegal? If yes, what can we do to make it legal? Do we need a TOS? Do we need them to agree to somthing first?

Thanks,

me


Asked on 1/22/07, 9:42 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
David Anderson Anderson Business Law LLC

Re: Is it illegal to link to copyrighted materials?

What you NEED is permission of the copyright protected sites to put links on your website. Read the TOU on EACH site you wish to link to, and follow their protocol, OR risk a lawsuit or at least a Cease & Desist letter.

Are you charging for access?

Selling advertising?

If none of above, why are you doing it?

Read more
Answered on 1/22/07, 7:40 pm


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