I previously posted a blog entry about the importance of using unique product descriptions. I ran across an interesting article earlier this week about how prevalent copyright infringement is and thought it might be worth sharing. The discussion indeed is a good indication of how poorly misunderstood the laws of copyright and fair use are. We all infringe on copyright throughout the day without even realizing it. With the internet and sites like YouTube not policing the content people post, copyright has become a sliding slope that many just conveniently ignore. It's always been something I've had to deal with and really learn the laws and best ways to protect against mis-use, as my software is easily copied and re-used without license.

So when creating your site, you may want to put some thought into whether the content on it is protected by copyright or not. You can't, for instance, take product images and descriptions from other websites without permission to use on your own site. We've already seen that unique content is a benefit in terms of search engine placement. Well, it may be important to protect yourself legally as well! Be sure if you get a design for your site that it's one that allows for commercial use. There are often sources of free site designs on the web, but they often require payment if used for commercial sites. It's always important to the reputation of your business to be sure you are following the rules others may have, just as you would want your own customers to pay for your products.

Just a little to think about.