The importance of copyright cannot be overstated. Simply put, if you ignore copyright you will hear from a lawyer sooner or later and it probably won’t be later. Find out what the rules are in your country and be aware of the rules in other countries where you share content.

You cannot hide anything online. If you use something without permission someone will find out. Authors regularly check for people stealing their content. (Personally I check once a month and I usually find someone.) Syndication creates a unique copyright situation and we will know more about this as the process is finalized.

Know your rights:

• Have a working knowledge of copyright laws in your country.
• If you are ever unclear on whether or not you have permission to use an article, err on the side of caution.
• Use a reprint release form so that you can document the copyright agreements you have with your writers.

Written by Senior Editor Claire Colvin