Hi

 

Sorry if I have posted this in the wrong place, but i'm trying to find out about the rules around creating fan websites without getting myself into any legal bother!

 

Me & a friend are setting up a fansite for a singer and i'm just wondered about how I can go about doing this without breaching any copyright laws etc.

 

I take it for every image that is used i have to first get permission from the owner and link back to their website? I wanted to have an area where users could submit their own images, but I imagine this would then go against all of this as they would just be uploading any images they found online.

 

Also, is it worth contacting the record label directly to find out what they do / do not want me to publicise? Maybe that way I can get 'exclusive' stuff that some fansites seem to offer (pictures, videos etc).

 

Has anyone here created a fansite? I can't imagine why the rules would be any different to a 'normal' website.

 

Thanks for reading and sorry again if I have posted this in the wrong place!

 

Tommy

Hi Tommy,

 

I run a Foo Fighters fansite here, www.foofighterslive.com. In regards to your main question no It isn't much different from creating any other website and you still have to think about the copyright laws and such when creating it. In terms of photos taken by fans and professionals alike I host them and give credit if possible otherwise I have a simple disclaimers asking if you own a picture and don't want it displayed, contact me to remove it/them.

 

In terms of contact with the band/band management I have had none apart from with the developer of the official website trying to get some affilation but I never heard back. I have made sure we never host any official copyrighted material (ie songs, videos), it is purely information and we've never had a problem.

 

I hope that helps.

Thats brilliant, thanks Killer.

 

Nice website too!