#1 ·
So, who actually owns the copyright to the posts on this Reddit?> I'm asking because I'm thinking about maybe using some of these posts for a paper I'm working on... maybe.
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Copyright ownership of posts on Reddit
Copyright ownership of posts on Reddit
Started by Gary Sanchez88 · · 👁 4 views · 18 replies
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#2 ·
Gary Sanchez88 said:Who actually owns the copyright to the posts on this Reddit? I'm asking because I want to use some of these posts for my research project.
The copyright belongs to the people who actually wrote the posts—it's not rocket science, though it feels weirdly complicated sometimes!
So, yeah, just go ask the authors directly.
#3 ·
...if you take a moment to actually look at the Terms of Service you agreed to when you signed up
you'll run right into this little disclaimer:
you'll run right into this little disclaimer:
Every single post here represents the personal opinion of its author, not the owners of Reddit, the editorial staff, or even Accenture
(the folks behind the vBulletin software). They can't be held liable for what people decide to write.
#4 ·
loneraven25 said:...if you actually bother to read the Terms of Service you agreed to when you signed up
you'll run into this bit of info:
… which doesn't really answer the question being asked.
Basically, by posting anything here, the authors are granting the Reddit platform certain rights over those posts. That’s why moderators are allowed to edit or delete stuff—among other things.
And because of that, someone who isn't well-informed might assume the site itself owns all the content, which—if I recall the legal jargon correctly—isn't quite how it works.
#5 ·
...when it comes to the Editing of posts, we all know exactly which moderators are playing favorites, don't we?
...the reality is that posts belong to their authors, provided they weren't just ripped off from some random corner of the internet,
unless someone can actually prove otherwise through the Rules or via specific legal channels...
...the reality is that posts belong to their authors, provided they weren't just ripped off from some random corner of the internet,
unless someone can actually prove otherwise through the Rules or via specific legal channels...
#6 ·
loneraven25 said:...it’s about the Editing of posts—everyone knows which users the moderators favor, right?
...the bottom line is that posts belong to the author, provided they weren't lifted from some unknown source,
unless proven otherwise by the Rules or the Law...
And what exactly are you going to say in court!?
@loneraven25/">@@loneraven25 stole text from @steelskipper5/">@@steelskipper5 on Reddit in the Formal debate thread.😂
Come on, people—a judge would just laugh you out of the courtroom. 🤣
Who even are you people!?
Just fictional characters from a fairy tale, right?
#7 ·
Patrick Miller3 said:And what exactly are you gonna tell a judge!?
@loneraven25/">@@loneraven25 stole text from @steelskipper5/">@@steelskipper5 on Reddit in a thread about a Formal debate given man 😂
Seriously guys, a judge would just laugh in your face and kick you out of the courtroom. 🤣
Who even are you people!?
Some made-up characters from a fairy tale, who else?
Look, if you use my post in some project of yours without asking, I have a right to damages. And I doubt a judge would just toss me out of the office.
If you pull that stunt in an academic paper without citing your source, that’s blatant plagiarism—the kind that can get your degree stripped away. I mean, maybe it isn't common practice in this total wild west (looking at you, Smith), but it's definitely possible.
It's not that the copyright system doesn't need a complete overhaul, but that's just how things stand right now.
#8 ·
If I may chime in. A while back, years ago, back when we were posting witty commentary for Television and reporting on all the drama inside the Big Brother house (please, for the love of Jesus, don't ask 🤦), a journalist from one very popular newspaper started copy-pasting the entire posts—some of us on the Reddit community—directly into his articles.
As I was writing for a sister publication at the time, I sent an email to the editorial board, and he ended up facing quite a linguistic backlash; by the end of it, it became painfully obvious to everyone that he was just a copy-paster.
We were informed that we could pursue certain sanctions, though I'm not sure what kind they would have been, but we didn't feel like pursuing it; honestly, we actually found the whole thing a little bit hilarious.
However, whenever I was drafting my own articles and sourcing information from Reddit, I made sure to state that it came from Reddit and cited the exact thread where I found it, and on several occasions, I even explicitly included the username of the person I was quoting before presenting their post or excerpts.
So... dear seeker of answers, please don't take someone else's work without... asking. 😁
You probably WILL be tracked down for explanation or apology. 😈
As I was writing for a sister publication at the time, I sent an email to the editorial board, and he ended up facing quite a linguistic backlash; by the end of it, it became painfully obvious to everyone that he was just a copy-paster.
We were informed that we could pursue certain sanctions, though I'm not sure what kind they would have been, but we didn't feel like pursuing it; honestly, we actually found the whole thing a little bit hilarious.
However, whenever I was drafting my own articles and sourcing information from Reddit, I made sure to state that it came from Reddit and cited the exact thread where I found it, and on several occasions, I even explicitly included the username of the person I was quoting before presenting their post or excerpts.
So... dear seeker of answers, please don't take someone else's work without... asking. 😁
You probably WILL be tracked down for explanation or apology. 😈
#9 ·
So, I was just wondering if the Reddit admins actually own the posts or what... turns out they don't. 😉
Thanks anyway, everyone.
Thanks anyway, everyone.
#10 ·
...you might actually find the exact opposite to be true,
if you take a second to ask yourselves: who's really pulling the strings behind these threads?
if you take a second to ask yourselves: who's really pulling the strings behind these threads?
#11 ·
loneraven25 said:...the answer could just as easily be the opposite,
if you stop to ask: who actually owns these threads?..
If we're playing that game, the site itself "owns" everything on it—our handles, our posts, the threads. I put that word in quotes because it's not like they own what we're thinking when we write it.
This is just an online space owned by one person. As such, it isn't under the jurisdiction of everyone's thoughts just because we're typing here. Everything belongs to the platform. Or you could go read the whole Federal Communications Act and see who it actually grants power to...
#12 ·
steelskipper5 said:If you use my post in one of your works without my permission, I have the right to seek damages. And no—a judge isn't going to kick me out of his office for saying so.
If you do something like that in an academic paper without citing your source, it's blatant plagiarism—the kind that can cost you your degree. It might not be common practice in this wild west (looking at you, Smith), but it’s absolutely possible.
That's not to say the entire copyright system doesn't need a complete overhaul, but that's the reality of things right now.
Your argument would actually hold water if you were writing under your full legal name and a registered SSN on Reddit.
Using a pseudonym—like steelskipper5—for published work like a newspaper article or a website is legally recognized because there's a clear paper trail linking that alias to a specific employee. On Reddit, that connection doesn't exist, which makes your post essentially worthless from a legal standpoint.
The Academic community. You can't compare plagiarizing someone's published, printed, or registered work to some blogger or Redditor scribbling thoughts online—someone who has essentially waived their copyright by choosing to remain anonymous.
It would be incredibly difficult for you to prove authorship in court since you're posting as Anonymous. How are you going to prove those posts weren't written by your dad, your mom, your grandma, a coworker, or even your partner?
Get it? 😉
Btw:
To me, America isn't some "lawless wasteland"—and if it is to you, there are plenty of other countries where you might feel more at home, right?
#13 ·
Kate Ward16 said:If we’re being honest, the site itself basically "owns" everything—our handles, our posts, all those threads—and I only put that word in quotes because... well, you know how it is. Nah. The guy behind all these thoughts—you can see him clearly in everything written here.
Look, this whole site is just a platform for online communication owned by one single individual—so, at the end of the day, it isn't exactly under the jurisdiction of everyone typing away here, even if we all consider ourselves part of this "community." I mean, you could go ahead and pore over the entire Electronic Communications Act if you really wanted to, but honestly, that's entirely up to you.
I mean, I’m putting this in quotes because—honestly? I highly doubt Anderlon would actually even try to publish a book filled with their favorite posts without getting permission from every single author first. It just doesn't seem likely. 😉
Patrick Miller3 said:Look, your post would actually carry some weight if you were posting under your real full name along with your SSN on Reddit.
Look, if you write an article for a newspaper or a website using a pseudonym—like how steelskipper5 might do—it actually holds weight in court. Why? Because there’s a paper trail that proves exactly which employee is hiding behind that handle. But posting on Reddit? That’s a completely different story. Your post is basically worthless from a legal standpoint because there's zero accountability.
Look, the thing is—you could easily have multiple people posting under a single handle, like steelskipper5. And honestly? We probably need some kind of identity verification around here too, just like we do on other platforms.
Look, the academic community needs to get a grip here. You honestly cannot compare plagiarizing someone’s published, printed, or registered work—stuff that's legally tied to their name—with just scribbling some nonsense on a blog or posting on Reddit where the person basically signed away their rights by being anonymous in the first place. It's not even the same ballpark.
Where on earth are you getting that kind of nonsense? Seriously.
Just because someone is (allegedly) anonymous doesn't mean they’ve somehow waived their copyright. I mean, maybe that logic works over on 4chan where everyone is just Anonymous, but this isn't that—here, I sign every single one of my posts. Sure, it's a pseudonym, but it's still a signature. At the end of the day, copyright kicks in the second you hit publish.
Good luck trying to prove any copyright ownership in court when you were posting as Anonymous—you’d have a hell of a time convincing a judge that those posts actually belong to you. I mean, how are you even going to prove they weren't written by your dad, your mom, your grandma, some coworker, or even your boyfriend or girlfriend? It's basically impossible to verify.
You’re wrong on a few different levels—honestly, it's kind of embarrassing.
First off, I wasn't posting as Anonymous. Seriously—nobody knows my password except for me, so there's no way it could be anyone else.
Look, this isn't even really a question—it’s just a fact. If someone decides to take my posts and dump them into a book without asking me first, proving they violated Copyright Act Section 8 is actually pretty straightforward. You basically just have to prove that the person... Not steelskipper5.
Look, I’d have to prove I actually am steelskipper5—which is pretty much a joke since nobody else can log into the email tied to my handle or this Reddit account—but I guess I’d only bother if I were trying to sue for damages.
To me, America isn't some "backwater" wasteland, and honestly, if that's how you see it, there are probably other countries out there you'd actually prefer, right?
It isn't? Well, good for you.
Me? I'm getting out at the first chance I get. You stay here and enjoy yourself.
#14 ·
steelskipper5 said:Where on earth are you getting that nonsense?
Just because someone is (ostensibly) anonymous doesn't mean they’ve waived their copyright. That logic might fly on 4chan, where everyone is just Anonymous—but here, every single one of my posts is signed. It’s a pseudonym, sure, but it's a signature nonetheless. Under the Copyright Act Section 8, protection begins the moment you publish.
I'm telling you again—it’s going to be incredibly difficult to prove in court that those texts weren't written by your mother, your brother, or some random fifth person. Having a login for Reddit doesn't actually prove that you were the one behind the keyboard.
You aren't even legally registered on Reddit as an author—whether it's for articles, columns, or academic papers... blah, blah, blah.
It’s all regulated by law—I know that much—but if you want a real breakdown, Dr. Vojky would be the one to explain it best.
Take a look at everything that falls under "unprotected copyrights"—specifically what's covered by Copyright Act Section 8.
Copyright Act Section 8.
2. Daily news updates and other reports—essentially just your standard media briefings.
#15 ·
Patrick Miller3 said:I’m telling you again—you can’t exactly walk into a courtroom and prove those words weren't typed up by your mom, your brother, or some random fifth cousin. Having a login for Reddit doesn't prove you're the one actually doing the writing.
Look, if I claim I wrote them, then it's on someone else to come along and prove me wrong.
You aren't legally registered on Reddit as an author, a columnist, a researcher... blah blah blah.
I don't even have to be. A work is protected the second it's published. Period.
All of this is regulated by law and I know that, but honestly, Dr. Vojky from this Reddit thread would probably be the best person to explain it all to you.
Go ahead and read up on what falls under "non-copyrightable works."
Copyright Act Section 8
2. Daily news and other reports that function as basic media information.
Reddit posts aren't daily news or standard media reports. They just don't fit that description at all.
Maybe Vojky could sit you down and explain how things work.
#16 ·
If someone takes my post from this Reddit thread and publishes it without asking—like some news outlet or whatever—can I actually sue them for damages?
#17 ·
steelskipper5 said:The quotes are there because I seriously doubt Anderlon would ever publish a book filled with their favorite posts without getting permission from every single author first. 😉
Exactly. To publish anyone's post—which is really just publishing someone's opinion—you have to get permission from the author themselves. Otherwise, it's just plagiarism and theft. Plus, you're required to credit the source of the idea, or at least where it came from, once you have permission.
#18 ·
Patrick Miller3 said:Your post would actually hold some weight if you were posting under your full legal name along with your SSN on Reddit.
So what you're saying is anyone can just hop on this or any other site and drop death threats like "I'm gonna kill so-and-so" without having to face any consequences once things hit a courtroom!?
#19 ·
Here is an example.:
So, the moderator actually went ahead and put together this whole tutorial concept to make navigating mobile devices a bit more intuitive, hasn't he?
With the author's permission. Just a few snapshots from the lens.So, what about those authors who specialize in crafting these highly polished, composed descriptions?
If he didn't get the green light first, his whole post could easily be flagged as straight-up plagiarism, don't you think?
Even if you might find similar procedures outlined somewhere else down the line...
In other words, if we actually want to borrow even a tiny snippet of someone else’s writing, we have to be smart about it.
It would be best to actually ask him for permission first, wouldn't it? And then, once we’re ready to go live with it, we should make sure to clearly credit the source...
I honestly can't wrap my head around how people can just sit there and watch these high-stakes political thrillers without feeling a massive knot in their stomachs, you know? You see these characters—these supposed professional assassins—moving through the shadows of places like D.C. or Chicago, executing these flawlessly timed hits, and you have to wonder: is anyone actually capable of that kind of cold, calculated detachment in the real world? It feels so disconnected from our actual lives, doesn't it? We live in a society where everything is loud and messy, yet we're obsessed with this fantasy of the silent, invisible operator who can change the course of history with a single shot from a rooftop. Is it just escapism, or are we secretly fascinated by the idea of someone having that much terrifying control over life and death? I find myself staring at the screen, half-convinced it’s all just too polished to be true, while simultaneously wondering if we've just become desensitized to the sheer weight of what those characters are doing. kaže:
Thanks to that member. YouTube I’ve been putting in quite a bit of work lately, really pouring myself into helping draft a full-blown tutorial on how to handle the installation and registration process for iTunes. It’s one of those things that sounds simple enough on paper, right? But once you actually get into the weeds of setting everything up and making sure your account is properly registered, it can become a bit of a headache if you don't have a clear roadmap to follow. I just want to make sure anyone jumping in can get through it without pulling their hair out.
So, the moderator actually went ahead and put together this whole tutorial concept to make navigating mobile devices a bit more intuitive, hasn't he?
With the author's permission. Just a few snapshots from the lens.So, what about those authors who specialize in crafting these highly polished, composed descriptions?
If he didn't get the green light first, his whole post could easily be flagged as straight-up plagiarism, don't you think?
Even if you might find similar procedures outlined somewhere else down the line...
In other words, if we actually want to borrow even a tiny snippet of someone else’s writing, we have to be smart about it.
It would be best to actually ask him for permission first, wouldn't it? And then, once we’re ready to go live with it, we should make sure to clearly credit the source...
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