Is the material available online always copyrighted?

Question

i want to start my own site and eventually go commercial by selling ad space. i was thinking of compiling the information from all the different sources available online. would i be breaching any copyright policies. what can be the possible legal consequences if i do, unintentionally.

help appreciated :)

Answer 1

Quick answer: No.

Just because something is copyrighted doesn't mean that you cannot use it, it depends on the licensing scheme in use. The truth is that there are many many licensing schemes currently in use. A photograph may be free for personal use but not for commercial. Using RSS feeds (should) not break copyright laws.If you are looking for photographs then go to: http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/ In general, you should be looking for creative commons licenses (they are easier to understand).

Summing up, before using a source check as to its copyright/usability status.