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

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copyright-question-can-i-post-a-link-to-a-scanned-newspaper-article/122992>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [August 8, 2002, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copyright-question-can-i-post-a-link-to-a-scanned-newspaper-article/122992 "2002-08-08T17:18:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copyright-question-can-i-post-a-link-to-a-scanned-newspaper-article/122992/1 "2002-08-08T17:18:21Z")

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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 . . .

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**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copyright-question-can-i-post-a-link-to-a-scanned-newspaper-article/122992/2 "2002-08-08T19:34:39Z")

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

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**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copyright-question-can-i-post-a-link-to-a-scanned-newspaper-article/122992/3 "2002-08-08T21:32:10Z")

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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

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copyright-question-can-i-post-a-link-to-a-scanned-newspaper-article/122992/4 "2002-08-09T02:19:28Z")

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Works for us. Your site, your link.

your humble TubaDiva  
Administrator