Copyright infringement?

[Pontus]

Hello,
I'm in the process of writing a book on a technical subject, about the technology and its use and value for business.

For my book I'm planning to have a number of case studies. The case studies in the book will be based on publicly available (Internet) sales material from vendors selling the technology. While the Vendors' sales material are often 3-4 pages long describing how the vendors client benefit from their product, I plan to shorten the texts down to 4-6 line paragraphs, emphasizing the use and value in the technology. No paraphrasing planned, but instead re-writing and significantly shortening down the text. Each of my study cases will 1. say who the vendor is, 2. provide the link to the vendor's sales material. In addition I plan your write a short paragraph of each vendor I'm referring to, and state that I have built my book's study cases on some of their sales material.

My question to you is: Do I need to ask for the vendors permission to use their sales material as study cases in my book? Do I take any risks by not asking them consider everything?

Thanks.

 

[Zigner]

Hello,
I'm in the process of writing a book on a technical subject, about the technology and its use and value for business.

For my book I'm planning to have a number of case studies. The case studies in the book will be based on publicly available (Internet) sales material from vendors selling the technology. While the Vendors' sales material are often 3-4 pages long describing how the vendors client benefit from their product, I plan to shorten the texts down to 4-6 line paragraphs, emphasizing the use and value in the technology. No paraphrasing planned, but instead re-writing and significantly shortening down the text. Each of my study cases will 1. say who the vendor is, 2. provide the link to the vendor's sales material. In addition I plan your write a short paragraph of each vendor I'm referring to, and state that I have built my book's study cases on some of their sales material.

My question to you is: Do I need to ask for the vendors permission to use their sales material as study cases in my book? Do I take any risks by not asking them consider everything?

Thanks.

1) What US state?
2) Yes, you need to ask permission to use someone else's intellectual property in the manner that you propose.
3) Yes, you risk lawsuits for potentially a great deal of money if you steal their IP in the manner that you propose.

 

[westside]

The answer to both of your questions is yes.

 

[quincy]

Hello,
I'm in the process of writing a book on a technical subject, about the technology and its use and value for business.

For my book I'm planning to have a number of case studies. The case studies in the book will be based on publicly available (Internet) sales material from vendors selling the technology. While the Vendors' sales material are often 3-4 pages long describing how the vendors client benefit from their product, I plan to shorten the texts down to 4-6 line paragraphs, emphasizing the use and value in the technology. No paraphrasing planned, but instead re-writing and significantly shortening down the text. Each of my study cases will 1. say who the vendor is, 2. provide the link to the vendor's sales material. In addition I plan your write a short paragraph of each vendor I'm referring to, and state that I have built my book's study cases on some of their sales material.

My question to you is: Do I need to ask for the vendors permission to use their sales material as study cases in my book? Do I take any risks by not asking them consider everything?

Thanks.

Are you located in the US, Pontus?

How your "case studies" are written will determine whether your use of the vendor material is infringement. There are trademark rights to consider, as well. How your case studies are composed can violate rights beside copyrights, in other words.

It is always safest when handling the rights-protected material of others to seek permission from the holders of these rights for authorization to use it. That avoids the potential for lawsuits.

And having your work reviewed personally by an IP attorney in your area (whatever area that happens to be) is wise and advised.

 

[Zigner]

How your "case studies" are written will determine whether your use of the vendor material is infringement.

OP wants to plagiarize 4-6 lines.

 

[quincy]

OP wants to plagiarize 4-6 lines.

Pontus says he plans to rewrite and shorten the text rather than paraphrasing, emphasizing in his own text the "use and value of the technology."

I would want to see the specific material he plans to use because facts would not be subject to copyright protection. Any of the vendors' "client" information, on the other hand, would be difficult to use without permission from the vendors.

As a general rule, most of the posters who come here for advice will require a personal review of their plans. The odds are pretty good that what they intend to do, or the way in which they intend to do it, would need revision at the very least. It is hard for most people to work with others' rights-protected work without the risk of infringing on these rights.

 

[Pontus]

Thank you!

Pontus says he plans to rewrite and shorten the text rather than paraphrasing, emphasizing in his own text the "use and value of the technology."

I would want to see the specific material he plans to use because facts would not be subject to copyright protection. Any of the vendors' "client" information, on the other hand, would be difficult to use without permission from the vendors.

As a general rule, most of the posters who come here for advice will require a personal review of their plans. The odds are pretty good that what they intend to do, or the way in which they intend to do it, would need revision at the very least. It is hard for most people to work with others' rights-protected work without the risk of infringing on these rights.

Hello,

I just want to say thank you to everyone who gave their comments and feedback on my question. I did not expect it to happen this fast.

I read all your comments, I appreciate them, and I decided for a number of factors to proceed by asking the vendors for their permission to refer to their success cases and write 4-5 sentences about them in the book.

The vendors come from all over the world, and even if I will write about the success cases in positive terms there's always the risk that things could turn into worst-case - I just don't want the mess or the worry - life is too short and moreover if I was one of the vendors I would appreciate having been asked.

Once again, thank you for your feedback - I appreciate it!

 

[quincy]

Hello,

I just want to say thank you to everyone who gave their comments and feedback on my question. I did not expect it to happen this fast.

I read all your comments, I appreciate them, and I decided for a number of factors to proceed by asking the vendors for their permission to refer to their success cases and write 4-5 sentences about them in the book.

The vendors come from all over the world, and even if I will write about the success cases in positive terms there's always the risk that things could turn into worst-case - I just don't want the mess or the worry - life is too short and moreover if I was one of the vendors I would appreciate having been asked.

Once again, thank you for your feedback - I appreciate it!

You're welcome, Pontus. And we thank you for the thanks.

I think you are making the right decision by seeking permission from the vendors to use their material. That should eliminate the legal risk that comes from using rights-protected material without the authors' authorization.

Good luck with your book.