Copyright Law for the Internet: What You Can Actually Post | Ep 24
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Ever screenshotted a quote, grabbed a photo from Google, or added music to a video without a second thought? So has everyone else, and almost all of it is technically copyright infringement.
In this episode of Life is Legal, host Brooke Hardie breaks down intellectual property law in plain English.
📍 Life is legal—so you gotta know the rules. Subscribe to Life is Legal for plain-English legal breakdowns that actually make sense.
What You'll Learn
✅ What copyright actually protects
✅ Why "I gave credit" isn't a legal defense,
✅ How AI is complicating who owns what
✅ When reposting is fair use vs. infringement
⏱️ Chapters
00:39 – Welcome to Life is Legal
01:38 – What intellectual property actually is
04:10 – Copyright vs. trademark: the real difference
06:32 – Myth-busting: the law doesn't protect ideas, just expression
08:05 – "I gave credit" is NOT a legal defense
08:38 – Can you screenshot an image from Google?
09:46 – Why Google gets away with using everyone's content (DMCA)
13:04 – The truth about memes
14:02 – Reposting on Instagram Reels: what's actually allowed
15:23 – Music licensing: Instagram vs. playing music in public
18:31 – Posting photos of other people: consent & privacy
20:08 – Artwork in your background: incidental use vs. featuring it
21:39 – Fair use exceptions, explained
25:17 – Fair use in action: critique, education & parody
29:39 – AI-generated content: does anyone actually own it?
32:00 – What a DMCA takedown means (and what to do)
34:07 – The copyright risk spectrum: low, medium, high
37:13 – The one mindset shift to take away from this episode
Want more real talk and practical tools to help you understand the laws that affect you and your family?
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The views and opinions expressed on “Life Is Legal” are those of Brooke Hardie and her guests alone…and are provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. No part of this podcast or any related materials are intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice
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A Storyteller Wordsmith Creative Studio production - https://www.storytellerwordsmith.com/podcast