Can I quote foreign texts on my website without acquiring a license for it?
October 22, 2022 | 50,00 EUR | answered by Isabel Tressel
Dear Media Law Attorney,
I operate a website where I regularly report on current topics in the field of art and culture. In doing so, I would also like to quote from other texts to support and enhance my articles. Now I am wondering whether I need to acquire a license for this or if it is sufficient to provide the source.
Currently, I have already published several articles in which I have quoted short passages from various texts by other authors. I have always made sure to correctly attribute the source and mark the text accordingly. However, now I have concerns about whether this is legally correct and whether I may be committing copyright infringement.
My concern is that I may face legal consequences due to the use of other texts on my website. I do not want to violate copyright laws and risk receiving warnings or lawsuits. Therefore, I would like to know if there is a way to quote from other texts without having to acquire a license.
Could you please tell me if I need to revise my previous articles and potentially acquire licenses to be legally safe? Or are there other ways in which I can quote from other texts in a legally secure manner?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Kind regards,
Edith Kieselbach
Dear Mrs. Kieselbach,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the use of foreign texts on your website in the field of art and culture. It is understandable that you are concerned about possible copyright infringement and wish to avoid legal consequences. Indeed, quoting foreign texts in journalistic articles is a sensitive issue that requires special attention.
In general, it is allowed to quote short passages from foreign works as long as you correctly indicate the source and mark the text as a quote. This falls under the right to quote, which is enshrined in German copyright law. It is important that the quoted text passages are embedded in the content of your own article and do not constitute the main part of the article.
However, there are also limits to the right to quote that must be observed. The quoted text passages must not be disproportionately long and must not outweigh the commercial purpose of your own contribution. Therefore, it is advisable to limit yourself to short quotes and carefully select them.
If you have already published several articles in which you have quoted foreign texts and have concerns about possible copyright infringement, I recommend revising your articles and possibly reviewing the quoted text passages. If you are unsure whether your previous approach is legally sound, you may consider acquiring licenses for the use of foreign texts.
There is also the option to use texts that are licensed under a Creative Commons license, which defines certain usage rights. These texts can be freely used depending on the license terms being upheld.
In any case, I recommend seeking advice from a specialized media law attorney if you have any doubts or questions about the right to quote. They can provide you with individual advice to ensure that you are legally in the clear and minimize potential risks.
I hope this information is helpful to you and I am happy to assist with any further questions.
Best regards,
Isabel Tressel
Media Law Attorney
