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I wanted to write a blog post about a common feature of some popular websites. To illustrate, I'll need to take screenshot, crop and shows the specific features that's I'm referring to.

I wonder if that's legal? Do I need to inform the webmaster for each of the site before I publish my post?

A second question is that since my focus is that specific feature, so I guess I should blur out the content of the screenshot, or I shouldn't alter anything?

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    Regarding blurring out identifying features, you wouldn't have to if it's a publicly accessible website. If you have to be a registered user to view the page you're screenshotting from (and your viewers are presumed to possibly not be registered), then that's a little trickier. Better to be safe than sorry.
    – akTed
    Commented Jan 13, 2013 at 11:02
  • @AKTed Good point
    – faulty
    Commented Jan 14, 2013 at 1:02

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Yes, it is perfectly legal for you to publish screenshots in an article/blog post that is discussing the content of those images. This is considered to be within fair use doctrine under section 107 of US copyright law, "Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use." Here are the four conditions given that determine fair use:

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;

(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;

(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and

(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work

So long as you're not trying to make money off of someone else's work, publishing screenshots for discussion is legally protected free speech (national security issues aside, of course).

Disclaimer: I am not an attorney.

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    You're mostly correct, but even commercial uses can be considered fair use. For example, a commercial web blog or online magazine / news site can still claim fair use when they include a screen shot in an article. The author is being paid to write the article, and the article itself is being used to generate ad revenue for the site. It's still fair use though.
    – Lèse majesté
    Commented Jan 12, 2013 at 5:25
  • So, in summary, I don't need to inform the webmaster?
    – faulty
    Commented Jan 12, 2013 at 6:05
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    No, you don't need to do that at all. You're covered by fair use.
    – Kenzo
    Commented Jan 12, 2013 at 6:05
  • @Lèse majesté Good point, but the parties in question in your example are being paid to comment about the original item. It's very similar to a movie review. When I said, "make money off of someone else's work," I meant it in the narrower sense of trying to sell the original content itself, not making commentary on that content.
    – Kenzo
    Commented Jan 12, 2013 at 6:14
  • In all honesty, this MAY apply to the United States. I highly doubt it though. If you screenshot copyrighted material (and a website is also copyrighted) you are de-facto infringing the creators copyright. Fair use or not, fair use also implies you are doing your best to inform the third party that you are using the material. Think of the following scenario: You screenshot apple.com's homepage. I doubt their lawyers deems your screenshot as fair use... DISCLAIMER: I am not an attorney.
    – David K.
    Commented Jan 12, 2013 at 12:05
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Fair use works in USA and every other country that has signed Berne Convention (Every European country has signed it). It basicly means you can use screenshots in educational purposes and in blog posts with critical reviews of the site. I have contacted some of the "big" sites asking their written permission to use screenshots for a blog that will be educational (FAIR USE) and also a part of a commercial site (NOT FAIR USE?) and their answer was as expected: "We don't allow the use of our site for commercial purposes."

These sites Terms and conditions state that we aren't allowed to copy and distribute their software, page headers, custom graphics, button icons and scripts without their permission..

Lawyer I contacted believes we are not breaking the law if we use screenshots of site available to public (non registered users).

Still not sure what this means for my blog as it is in the grey area of Fair use. For now I will not use screenshots for my blog as it is a part of a commercial site.

If anyone had similar experience and has come to a better solution i would appreciate any info.

Disclaimer: I am not an attorney.

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