Connecting to Other Websites

One of the central features of the Internet is the ability for each website to offer connections to other sites in the click of a button. There are a few ways that websites connect, each with different legal implications for getting permission. This section discusses the issues raised when your site connects to other websites, and it provides a sample linking agreement.

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Linking and Framing

Two common ways websites connect to other sites are linking and framing.

Linking

Most often, a website will connect to another in the form of a link (also known as a “hypertext” link), a specially coded word or image that when clicked upon, will take a user to another Web page. A link can take the user to another page within the same site (an “internal link”), or another site altogether (an “external link”). You do not need permission for a regular word link to another website’s home page.

Deep Linking. Despite some inconsistencies in early case law, it is generally agreed that deep-linking (a link that bypasses a website’s home page) is not copyright infringement—after all, the author of a novel can’t prevent readers from skipping to the end first if they so desire, so why should a website owner have the right to determine in what order a user can access a website? Although many websites—even the listener-friendly National Public Radio—have asserted rights against deep-linkers under both copyright and trademark law principles, the cases of Kelly v. Arriba Soft Corp., 336 F.3d 811 (9th Cir. 2003) and Perfect 10, Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc., 508 F.3d 1146 (9th Cir. 2007), seem to have put the nail in the coffin for deep-linking disputes. Foreign courts general conform to this view, though there have been some anomalies.

Framing

Besides using external links, another way to connect from your website to other websites is by “framing.” Framing is a lot like linking in that you code a word or image so that it will connect to another Web page when the user clicks on it. What makes framing different is that instead of taking the user to the linked website, the information from that website is imported into the original page and displayed in a special “frame.” Technically, when you’re viewing framed information, your computer is connected to the site doing the framing—not the site whose page appears in the frame.

Framing is generally unpopular with websites whose content is framed on another site (unless they have agreed to it). Websites that frame the content of other sites are often seen as stealing the other site’s content. One court found framing to be a copyright infringement because the process resulted in unauthorized modification of the linked site. (Futuredontics Inc. v. Applied Anagramic Inc., 45 U.S.P.Q.2d 2005 (C.D. Cal. 1998).) In another case, The Washington Post, CNN, and several other news companies sued a website, TotalNews, which framed their news content. Under the terms of a settlement agreement, TotalNews agreed to stop framing and agreed to use text-only links.

A framer is more likely to be found liable for copyright (or trademark) infringement if copyrighted material is modified without authorization or if customers are confused about the association between the two sites or the source of a product or service.

Keep in mind that some forms of framing are perfectly legal. For instance, many sites use frames as a way of organizing their content. When framing the content of another site, however, you are entering hazardous territory. Unless you know a site won’t object or have reached an agreement with the site’s owner, you should proceed carefully before framing its content.

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Linking Agreements

The purpose of a linking agreement, like all permission agreements, is to avoid a dispute. As the web matures, there is less and less need for these agreements.

However, the following types of links may create disputes:

  • image links, particularly where the image that you click on is a trademark from the linked site
  • links that result in framing, and
  • inlining links that only pull certain elements from a site, such as an image.

The permission may be informal, such as a written statement from the distant site stating, “You have permission to link to our website’s home page using the words [insert the words in the link].” Or, you can use a longer agreement that covers the terms more specifically.

The agreement provided below can be used to avoid disputes over any of these types of links.

FORM

Linking Agreement
This Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made between ____________________ (“Source Site”) with its homepage URL of ___________________ and _________________ (“Destination Site”) with its homepage URL of _____________________________.
The parties agree as follows: The Link

The Source Site will provide a link to the Destination Site as follows: _____________ ________________________________________(the “Link”)

The Link includes Destination Site’s URL and:
(select if appropriate)

___ Hypertext link–the words: ____________________________.

___ Image link: ________________________________________.

___ Framed link: ________________________________________.

Grant

Destination Site grants the right to display the Link at the Source Site and the nonexclusive right to display publicly the trademarks or images in the Link. Source Site obtains no trademark rights under this Agreement other than the right to display the marks. Any goodwill associated with the Source Site’s trademarks automatically vests in the Destination Site.

Standards and Notifications

(select if appropriate)

___ Source Site shall maintain its site in accordance with industry standards and upon notice from Destination Site shall promptly remove the Link if required. Source Site shall promptly notify Destination Site of any change to the Link or changes to the Source Site affecting the Link.

By:

Date:

Source Site Title:

Source Site Mailing Address:

email:

By:

Date:

Destination Site Title:

Destination Site Mailing Address:

email:

Explanation for Linking Agreement

  • In the introductory section, insert the name of the company or person that owns the source site. The source site is the site where the link is located—that is, the starting point for the link. Once the link is clicked the user is taken to the destination site. Insert the URL (Web address—for example, http:// or www.address.com) for each site.
  • In the section entitled The Link, describe the pages that are linked. 
For example:

 

“A link between Source Site’s “Other References” page and Destination Site’s internal page entitled “Copyright Developments.”

Or,

“A link between Source Site’s home page and Destination Site’s image entitled “Two Chihuahuas” encapsulated as 2Chihua.JPG.”

Or,

“A link between Source Site’s home page and Destination Site’s internal page entitled “Today’s News,” resulting in a framed page with the frame incorporating Source Site’s trademarks and advertisements.”

Sometimes, the best way to describe a frame or inlined link is to provide a screen snapshot and attach it to the agreement. In that case, write in: “As attached and incorporated into this agreement” and attach the image to the agreement.

  • In the next section, choose a hypertext link or image link (or both if necessary). A hypertext link is a word link (usually viewed as color-highlighted text). An image link should be described. If it is a trademark of the destination site, ask the destination site to supply the image (usually in a GIF or JPG format).
  • The Grant section permits the use of the link and related trademarks or images. The statement, “Any goodwill associated with Source Site’s trademarks automatically vests in Destination Site” is a requirement of trademark law. It guarantees that the destination site preserves its trademark rights.
  • The optional section Standards and Notification is a further assurance sometimes required by a destination site that the source site won’t operate in an unlawful manner or change the link dramatically. It offers the option of instant termination. Even if this section is not included, the destination site can probably force the removal of the link if it desires.
  • Both parties should sign the agreement. (Click here for an example and explanation of an “Art and Merchandise License.”) Many of the miscellaneous provisions included in legal agreements, such as dispute resolution, are not included here for brevity and ease. Include any that you wish to apply to your agreement.

Linking Disclaimers

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To minimize liability for any activities that occur when a visitor is taken to a linked website, a webmaster may want to include a disclaimer on the home page. A disclaimer is a statement denying an endorsement or waiving liability for potentially unauthorized activity. A sample disclaimer appears below.

Linking Disclaimer

By providing links to other sites, [name of site] does not guarantee, approve, or endorse the information or products available on these sites.

A disclaimer is not a cure-all for infringement, but if a disclaimer is prominently displayed and written a court may take it into consider­ation as a factor limiting damages. For example, in a case involving a dispute between websites for two restaurants, both named Blue Note, one factor that helped the lesser-known restaurant avoid liability was a prominently displayed disclaimer stating that it was not affiliated with the more famous restaurant. (Benusan Restaurant v. King, 937 F.Supp. 295 (S.D. N.Y. 1996).)

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