Copyright law and licensing on the Internet
Doghouse – Copyright and Licensing
Despite the common assumption, everything online is not in the public domain.
"But, but, but … I found it on the Internet!" Many people today think that just because the image or text is found on the Internet that it is free to be used or copied, as if the copied item were in the "public domain."
Of course, copyright law (and licensing) is determined by the laws of particular countries. What is law in one country may not apply in another country, but in many cases copyright laws are shared between countries via international agreements. As a rule of thumb, I tend to adhere to the strictest set of laws to protect myself, and the strictest set of laws tends to be from the United States.
The United States is so focused on copyright (and patent) law that they built the beginnings of these laws into their Constitution – the same document that supposedly guarantees the freedoms of US citizens also guarantees the existence of copyrights and patents and sets up a copyright and patent office much sooner in the document than the part guaranteeing freedom of speech.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
The Bullet-Proof KDE Software Initiative Is Coming
KDE, Techpaladin, and Kubuntu Focus have announced a new initiative that will provide at least three years of support for KDE Plasma 6.6 LTS and related software.
-
Linux Mint Shares a Possible Kernel Cleanup Solution
For those on Linux Mint who like to keep multiple kernels around but don't want them to take up too much space, you might be getting a new automated tool.
-
CachyOS Gets an Update
CachyOS August 2026 release is now available with the latest version of KDE, some new features, and plenty of improvements.
-
The Linux Kernel Dev Staging Area Now Rejects AI-Generated Patches
Unless a kernel patch is a valid security fix, it will be rejected if it was created using AI.
-
Linux Surpasses Double-Digit Market Share
According to two sources, the Linux operating system has hit a major milestone in market share that naysayers thought would never happen.
-
AI Helped Develop a Linux Exploit
A use-after-free race exploit was discovered and exploited on CentOS Stream 9.
-
Yet Another Linux Kernel Vulnerability Discovered
Affecting millions of systems, a kernel flaw discovered by Qualys could allow users to gain root privileges.
-
Ubuntu 26.10 to Include Ubuntu Certified Hardware Check
If you've ever wondered if your laptop or PC is officially certified to run Ubuntu, that curiosity will soon be met.
-
Substantial Update to IPFire Now Available
The lastest version of IPFire features a fundamental change to how the system handles DNS.
-
Gnome Working on Test Center App to Make Testing Easier
It's now possible to test experimental features on the Gnome desktop without worrying that you'll break things.