Many wedding blogs will scan images and articles from the magazines in order to share that inspiration with their readers. Because of this, readers are consuming the glossy articles for free from sites with advertisements that don't benefit the magazine.
So here are my questions and they're up for discussion: is it okay for a blog that makes some amount of money from advertisements to post scanned magazine images and articles? Should the magazines be grateful for the "free word of mouth" because of a link on the blog? Is it okay that the blogger is making money off of someone else's dime without paying for that content?
What are your thoughts?
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15 comments:
You know, I never thought of it in that way. I mean, you are completely right about ownership.
I think my detachment comes from "I purchased the magazine, I may as well scan in a picture of my work" Than again, that really isn't the subject you are writing on... Hrm.
Is it different if you are scanning in a page where your work is displayed instead of just scanning in images for inspiration?
I don't see how that is different from any other plagiarism. It's the same as if the images were on their site and borrowed without permission.
I post the articles when that publication doesn't offer a pdf version for me to use. Many of the larger publications will send a pdf for web use, but most of the local and regional publications don't offer such a service. Linking to the publications website is a great way to give them credit. In terms of people looking at the editorial instead of purchasing the magazine themselves, I think that most vendors offer such a small number of pages compared to the entire magazine that it wouldn't stop consumers from purchasing. I will also say that so many magazines send hundreds of free copies to our office that I don't know how concerned they are about my clients actually purchasing their magazines. I wonder, if you didn't post the magazine articles and just showed the magazine cover, how would you trust the editorial content without seeing it? Would you expect your client to purchase the magazine first and check the editorial? Thanks for the discussion Liene, you always have great ideas to share!
I'm torn: on one hand, I think giving the magazine credit and a link should be good enough. On the other, no one should should benefit from someone else's time and money to promote themselves or their site.
Definitely worth thinking about, as usual, Liene!
Oooh, great post! I think there are a couple ways to look at it. Free word of mouth is always nice but when you pay a lot of money to put something together and someone else gets paid (via ads) for it, that stinks. But on the other hand it's also nice to be recognized for something you worked hard on by others who feel their readers would benefit from the information. So I guess I'm on the fence. I look forward to reading thoughts on this from other readers.
It is a bit dodgy. especially if the blogger then has the cheek to make money from their blog.
no,no, not on.
I think it's fine as long as they're only scanning a page or two or even just a picture. That way, the reader is more likely to go pick up the magazine and go check out the rest of it if they like what they see on the blog.
I think/hope that this practice benefits the magazines, much like previewing it in the store. I will RUN to the bookstore if I see a great feature on a blog and if there are other (2-3)features that attract my attention, I buy the magazine. I like touch the pages! On the other hand, blogs that only regurgitate magazine content, and re-post from other blogs are boring and unimaginative. It seems a shame that they profit.
Interesting question Liene!
When I purchase a magazine, I have never thought about the implications of republishing information.
I initially thought that if it just one page was being posted, there was no harm. However, even with only one page being posted, think of the "slippery slope." What if every blogger posted one magazine page? You'd theoretically have entire magazines published online, for free consumption.
Of course credit is already being given to the mag when the blogger lists the source; however, the potential revenue stream has been affected. Perhaps we should only post after the issue has been removed from the shelves and not available for purchase. Who knows??
I go back and forth on this.. My general thought is that if you pull an excerpt (to me, this includes text and/or photos if it's a spread), link or reference to the magazine, AND it's information that would otherwise be available online for free from the publication, go for it. Don't reproduce in entirety.. if you're going to benefit from the view, make sure that you're throwing something to the publication by enticing people to click through.
I agree with Lindsey- how is a magazine page any different from other content people blog about? No matter what you put on your blog, if you didn't take the photos or write the text, you *must* ask permission.
A link isn't enough- permission from the copyright holder is a must.
Loving these comments ...
I would like to share my prespective as the owner of a state-wide publication.
I co-own Kentucky Bride magazine and we are set up differently than national publications. We DO NOT pay for real wedding stories, they are based on the photography, story and details of the wedding. We also will not accept a wedding that has been in any other publication, national blog, etc. We DO, however put alot of time and effort into our photo shoots for the magazine. The ONLY revenue we receive is from Advertisers {and on newsstands, if there's anything left from the distributors}.
So, my thoughts may be a little different:
* We are HONORED when someone wants to blog about our magazine.
* We do expect to be given credit and a link.
* We would really APPRECIATE it if the blog would contact us first {to get permission, to get web ready copy, etc.}
These are just a few points from my perspective. Hope it helps.
Again, really enjoy this conversation ... thanks Liene.
kindly - jaimeson
For those who said that it's okay for a blogger who makes $ from their blog to post scanned magazine articles, would it also be okay for a blog to repost entire articles from other blogs (SEO and duplicate content penalties aside) if both blogs make money from advertising? Is it the same situation or different?
Great Post, I think that in this world of sharing and re-posting material. Quality and originality brings readership.
Ethically, Its of the Upmost importance to give props and credit to where the material is from.
Those who bring traffic back to other publications will be thanked and their value will increase.
As a last resort, I think most professionals have been copied, and its the most sincere form of flattery.
Use your skills to benefit others and bring the industry up, when the tide rises, all boats float.
I just finished listening to an interview with Stephen Drucker the Editor-in-Chief of House Beautiful on the Skirted Roundtable and it was quite eye opening. He was very complimentary of blogs and basically said there is no comparision with looking at a big, glossy photo and seeing it online. This point I think is quite true. He also made the point that often times if an image is used for a blog it's used in a conversational sense versus a huge pictorial. It was a great interview and although he runs a design magazine I have a feeling that many of the bridal magazines may feel the same way.
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