Question: What things are legal to put on my "Simpsons" web site?
Answer: If you're a "Simpsons" fan who has surfed the Net a time or two, you know there are some well-designed fan sites out there. Many of them include copyrighted material, which is a big no-no.
You can still have an awesome, and legal, "Simpsons" site. Check out "The Simpsons" Archive as an example. This site uses lots and lots of trivia, news, character bios and "Simpsons" information to keep folks coming back.
According to Fox's web site, here's what you're not allowed to do on your web site for "The Simpsons."
- Use copyrighted photographs, images and sounds which have not been approved for distribution. This is the big one that gets your site shut down. (See my previous article about Fox shutting down fan sites.)
- Remove Fox's copyright and trademark notices and assert ownership by a third party, or assert that copyrighted and trademarked materials are in the public domain. In other words, don't say you drew it or own it, or that it's up for grabs to anyone.
- Copy or alter text, photographs, images, designs and logos from official websites without permission or attribution.
- Copy or alter photographs, images, designs and logos from programs in a manner that denigrates the programs, the actors or the characters they portray.
- Use photographs, images, designs and logos to promote a product or commercial business or service. So if you invent a baby translator, don't use Maggie's face to sell it.
- Carry advertising for parties not associated with the programs.
- Offer unlicensed merchandise for sale.
