Copyright Issues Proliferate on the Net

As companies realize the extent of their own copyrighted works, they also find they are prolific users of the copyrighted content of others. Most articles, newsletters, graphics and images that find their way into the workplace are subject to copyright protection.

Email is the primary vehicle by which workers move information. Surveys have found that 80 percent of employees use it to send links or to attach documents, and that nearly half of knowledge workers cut-and-paste content into e-mails. Sending a link is often in compliance with copyright law, while attaching documents or cutting and pasting often is not. One survey found that fifty-one percent of workers erroneously believe that information obtained online or in print, at no charge, can be shared without copyright holders’ permission. Many workers pay no attention to copyright, and more than half of workers surveyed either don’t think about copyright or don’t care.

Subscriptions and publishing agreements are somewhat helpful. Some publishers sell licenses that let employees share articles from specific periodicals, journals, or newsletters within their companies. Rights aggregation and licensing services provide broader protections, streamlining the rights process and covering much of the content employees need to use and share.

As copyright compliance evolves, companies must keep tabs on employees and monitor how they use and distribute content. By partnering with expert service providers, companies can help ensure proper content sharing and avoid costly mistakes.