Is using screen shots legal?

in a tutorial article

[moltar]

Lets say I want to write a tutorial about program X. I want to supplement it with screen shots (it is easier to understand the tutorial this way). Is it fair user of screen shots? Is it legal?

[AWildman]

I think so long as you have the normal copyright info. somewhere on the page. That's what we do. Haven't had a problem.

[photocartoonist]

Consult your attorney. Mine would say "when in doubt get permission".

[Essex_boy]

Just what i was going to say. Hell they may even be that impressed you could a deal on the products shown.

[shigamoto]

I work with screenshots a lot online and it's usually never a problem. As long as you don't show screenshots which isn't your own.

If you want to make a tutorial about a program the developer should be happy, after all they will save in support calls (thanks to your tutorial) and also get free publicity.

Hope the tutorial will be good! :)

[BigDave]

Since I am assuming this is a commercial venture, get the opinion of a good copyright attorney.

That aside, you are in an extremely good position in almost all regards.

1) writing a tutorial will almost certainly qualify as a "transformative work", and will contain aspects of review, criticism, and comments upon the work.

2) it is for an educational purpose, which will greatly expand what the courts will consider your fair use rights.

3) With any screen shot where the output is significantly altered by your input, you likely own more of the copyright than the software company.

4) You are not copying the software, you are copying the output. They may prefer to make money selling their own tutorial, but if you take your screen shots from the software instead of copying from their tutorial, it seems to me that the loss due to their tutorial would not come into play. Their copyright is in the software, and you are not making software.

But remember, just because you have a good Fair Use case, does not mean that they cannot sue you anyway.

[brizad]

This is not exactly your situation but it is related.

Several times we have had textbook companies ask for permission to use a screenshot of one of our pages in their texbooks. They sent a form telling us the specifics (number of books to be printed, time frame, etc) and then asked us to sign a form and fax or mail it back. I would say that this is the "professional" way to handle it.

On the other hand, we have had plenty of our images stolen and used on other sites :0

[rogerd]

I wonder if the publishers of "Web Sites that Suck" get many signed permissions back? ;)

[Leosghost]

What was it that Oscar Wilde said about "the only thing worse than being talked about ..was not being talked about " ..I'd say it's a safe bet than on links value traffic alone ..some of them fax back the OK :)

self edit "speeling "