Re: Use of Screen Shots in Writing Software Manuals

>

Larry wrote :
> Suppose a person wants to write a (commercial) book or training
>manual instructing others on how to use a third party's copyrighted
>computer software. May the person make use of "screen shots,"
produced >through use of the software, as an instructional aid in such a book >without infringing copyrights in the software? Would such use be fair >use? I'd appreciate any comments, or cites to cases addressing this >specific issue. Thanks so much, Larry.

Yes Larry, I think one can use the screenshots as instructional aid in the book..how else can those elements be described without help of illustrations...and such use being provisioned under the doctrine of fair use..

because if the author tries to avoid copyright issues and creates his own screenshots to explain the readers..then he might be caught in a different quagmire..of violating the authors integrity rights..

wait... others might have better answers :)

Regards,

Raza Ahmed Siddiqui
B.Com(H),LLb,PGDIPR,GCIP
ADVOCATE
RAZABHAI (SM)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW ATTORNEYS
HYDERABAD, INDIA
Mob : 091-9246531923
Email : razabhai[_at_]yahoo.com
URL : http://www.razabhai.com Received on Tue Mar 22 2005 - 02:45:02 GMT