Be careful when you copy/quote content for your blogs! It is a common concern and as well it should be.
Many blogs (including this one) quote content and use stories posted elsewhere as a source for their own content. The main point to keep in mind is to only quote as much as is necessary, and paraphrase when possible. Good blog etiquette tells us to linkback to the source whenever possible.
I definitely run into this issue (being more of a news blog), and have gotten better about it over the course of my blog. If I don’t have any commentary to add to an article, then I try not to post it. I do hope, however, that if anyone feels that I have overstepped my bounds, that they will contact me to say so and I will certainly take care of the offending post.
For an excellent article on the do’s and don’t’s of quoting outside sources: LEADING EDGE LAW: Tips to deal with copyrights of others if you’re blogging
And in case that link ever goes dead, here is the author’s information:
John Farmer is a lawyer with
the Leading-Edge Law Group PLC, which specializes in intellectual
property and e-commerce law. He can be reached at (804) 343-3221 or via
www.leadingedgelaw.com. 2006 Leading-Edge Law Group, PLC.