Question about Soundboards

[Governator]

I noticed that a lot of soundboards show up on many different sites. I have seen several of the same Arnold Schwarzenegger soundboards on several different sites. Does the author care that people just take their work? I guess as long as they keep the author's name and/or link on the soundboard its ok to take???

[Citronic27]

They're not copyrighted so can be used by anyone really. It irritated me a bit at first when I started seeing some of my boards on various sites without my permission having been asked. But then at the end of the day I have a good time making them, I don't tend to prank call much myself so the more that can be done for the boards to reach a wider audience and subsequently be used in more pranks the better

[Governator]

Originally Posted by Citronic27

They're not copyrighted so can be used by anyone really. It irritated me a bit at first when I started seeing some of my boards on various sites without my permission having been asked. But then at the end of the day I have a good time making them, I don't tend to prank call much myself so the more that can be done for the boards to reach a wider audience and subsequently be used in more pranks the better

I agree. If anyone holds a copyright its the movie companies that the sounds are taken from. I heard someone was suing Ebaums for taking a Flash game or something w/out permission and it got me thinking about people taking soundboards.

[JerkyMyTurky]

Originally Posted by Governator

I noticed that a lot of soundboards show up on many different sites. I have seen several of the same Arnold Schwarzenegger soundboards on several different sites. Does the author care that people just take their work? I guess as long as they keep the author's name and/or link on the soundboard its ok to take???

A copyright automatically exists upon the creation of an original work. You do not need to register with the copyright office to obtain a copyright, although it helps alot more if you do so, in case there is a copyright dispute. For example, I sketch a character I thought up in my head on to a piece of paper, that character has been copyrighted upon my finishing the sketch. If there is ever a dispute, I would have to prove that whoever else made a copy of my character, did so after my creation and due to my creation. If someone else by chance does a very similar character after you, but without knowledge of yours, than whoever got the official copyright from the office would have official rights.

When it comes to copyright of soundboard creations, I would assume the same laws apply, but soundboards are usually based upon copyrighted characters or created by use of copyrighted material. A couple of reasons soundboard authors aren't bothered, is because they usually do not make a profit from doing so, mainly for entertainment purposes only, the copyright holders do not view it as a big problem and probably because they probably see it as a benefit to have a soundboard floating around the internet as a promotional tool.

As for authors of soundboards minding if their work is floating around the internet, I'd assume most of them find it as a compliment to see their work on many sites. I occasionally look up my salad fingers soundboard on google, to see how many sites are using it. I actually submitted it to a couple of sites, so that they would put it on their sites.

[Governator]

Originally Posted by JerkyMyTurky

A copyright automatically exists upon the creation of an original work. You do not need to register with the copyright office to obtain a copyright, although it helps alot more if you do so, in case there is a copyright dispute. For example, I sketch a character I thought up in my head on to a piece of paper, that character has been copyrighted upon my finishing the sketch. If there is ever a dispute, I would have to prove that whoever else made a copy of my character, did so after my creation and due to my creation. If someone else by chance does a very similar character after you, but without knowledge of yours, than whoever got the official copyright from the office would have official rights.

When it comes to copyright of soundboard creations, I would assume the same laws apply, but soundboards are usually based upon copyrighted characters or created by use of copyrighted material. A couple of reasons soundboard authors aren't bothered, is because they usually do not make a profit from doing so, mainly for entertainment purposes only, the copyright holders do not view it as a big problem and probably because they probably see it as a benefit to have a soundboard floating around the internet as a promotional tool.

As for authors of soundboards minding if their work is floating around the internet, I'd assume most of them find it as a compliment to see their work on many sites. I occasionally look up my salad fingers soundboard on google, to see how many sites are using it. I actually submitted it to a couple of sites, so that they would put it on their sites.

Thanks for responding. I agree that its better for soundboards to show up on different sites. If they were only on one single site, many people would never even know the soundboard exists. Did you make any other soundboards besides the Salad Fingers?

[JerkyMyTurky]

Originally Posted by Governator

Thanks for responding. I agree that its better for soundboards to show up on different sites. If they were only on one single site, many people would never even know the soundboard exists. Did you make any other soundboards besides the Salad Fingers?

That was my first time using Flash and it took me about a week and a half with gathering and editing sounds and putting the soundboard together. I had a number of ideas for different soundboards, but after that first one, I haven't ventured back to attempting a second one. I might make another, if I find myself with absolutely nothing to do. I can't bust them out like Citronic can.