Copyright question: Can I post a link to a scanned newspaper article?

A little background info:

A week or so back, something cosmically hilarious happened in Minot, and I wanted to post it in MPSIMS (notice I’m withholding the story). I waited a few days, thinking the printed article from the newspaper would be posted on the online website. It never was. So, for my own personal archives, I scanned the front page and saved it.

Fast forward awhile: Today, I noticed the only cite referenced is an editorial comment on the webpage. I understand that we generally regard webpages as ‘open domain’ to cite, but what about a scanned newspaper? I bought the paper, and it’s a back date, so it’s not like I’d be denying the paper any profits. It’s also got the staff writer’s name and e-mail addy on it (which I can blank out if need be).

I guess I’m just curious to see if there’s a precedent of this sort. I really wanted to share the story, but not in such a way that the ChiReader’d get into trouble.

Tripler
It’s a really frickin’ funny story. You can’t make something like this up . . .

Could you call the newspaper, and ask them what their policy would be concerning you posting a scanned page on your personal website?

I just got off the phone with the Editor of the paper.

They don’t see a problem with it. I explained I wanted to scan a copy of it and post it on the web for friends and family and he said, “so long as it isn’t going to be republished anywhere, I don’t see any problem.”

He even mentioned it’s like clipping it out of the paper and mailing a copy to friends and family.

So, if you guys don’t mind, I’ll put it on my website and link to it.

Tripler

Works for us. Your site, your link.

your humble TubaDiva
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