Copyright, Trademark, things that can get me sued, et cetera.

Howdy Tropers, I'm brand new, with a newbyish smell, fresh off the truck of Tropers that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground.

Let's say I'm "writing a story" and I want to "use terms from this web page" and that I "use quotes inappropriately" can anyone come and get me and take all my lavish imaginary earnings? Not saying that the story is 1.) anywhere near complete 2.) That the story summary has even made it past four pages 3.) will even be good enough to be published.

Oh, and if this has been asked before, can ya just link me to where this song and dance has been choreographed before?

Thanks Tropers!

What web page are you quoting? And I think you're usually good as long as you put a source.

I think he means this web page, unless you were being facetious.

Where the heck is the terms of agreement thingy?

There's a copyright notice at the bottom of all wiki pages. Here.

I was looking at the bottom of the forum page and being all confused. Thanks.

Yikes, 3 minutes in, and I'm already terrible at this. Let me try and give a clear example, and I do mean try.

So I'm writing a story, a book, perhaps a webcomic (before I ramble too long, just read: He doesn't know his own media is yet). But I want one of my characters to be Genre Saavy. He can see what everyone is, and what's going on, and basically calls people on it, much to their confusion. Ok, that was a summary, but here's the example:

Duder Mc Duderson meets a wizard who can supposedly help Duder back to Duderville. But, In order for Wizard to help Duder, Duder must first get Wizard an ingredient to help his sick kid. Duder than says "Oh, so you're the cobbler who's children has no shoes." Wizard is all "Hey, I'm a Wizard, if you couldn't tell by my name, Jerkface." So Duder explains, "You need me to get a plant for you sick kid, and if you can send me home, then presumably you can just conjure up this ingredient for your kid yourself. So do that, and then just send me home."

Ok. Admittedly, that was the worst paragraph ever written since "My Immortal". Sorry about that. But, can any of you fine Tropey's sue me for using the term The Cobblers Children Have No Shoes"?

^^Forum posts are copyrighted as correspondence, I think.

^No.

You know, I read a response to a question similar to this not that long ago and I cannot remember what the gist was. I shall hit the holler button (the little yellow triangle above) and ask.

Edit to add: realized that may not be a great idea, someone will see this.

edited 10th Dec '10 10:25:07 PM by blackcat

"You know, I read a response to a question similar to this not that long ago and I cannot remember what the gist was. I shall hit the holler button (the little yellow triangle above) and ask."

Yikes, yellow button, like fire, bad?

"Edit to add: realized that may not be a great idea, someone will see this."

My idea isn't even remotely original or interesting, so if you think someone will steal this: good, I'm too dumb to be Troperific. If this is what you meant, if not, see below.

Have you ever been to a party, gone up to a group of people, listened for a couple of minutes and realized you are WAAAY to dumb to try and jump in? That's how I feel after looking at this forum. You guys and gals are way to learn-ed for me.

Carwash: we aren't that scary, or learned or smart. We just know the site a little better than you do and are really, truly just trying to help. Put your fear in your pocket and poke around and ask questions.

Kewl beans, I like to self-deprecate, because people tell me my tone online comes off as snooty, abrasive and all around jerkish. But IRL, I'm the best at being humble. Wait... That might be an oxymoron.

Whenever I hear something along the lines of "Let me get a Mod" it's never a good thing, I thought I had crossed a line my puny brain couldn't compute. My bad, I often abandon ships before they set sail, so thanks for your positive words of encouragement, blackcat. And thanks Tzetze for the help earlier.

The mods on the wiki are actually rather friendly, and willing to help. Most of the time we call on them it's to ask them questions like your or to do admin things for us like locking threads when they're done. They generally aren't a threat around here.

That said, using the titles of trope or references to the site is not signed upon. A thank you would be nice, but it's not required.

So lets say I actually got this party started and had my Genre Savvy Character say, "I knew all that time at tvtropes wasn't a waste of time."

and, of course did a "very special episode of blossom" like dedication to the site and tropers themselves would have me hailed as a hero?

The "copyright notice" at the bottom of every wiki page is actually a Creative Commons license.

Further, the hypothetical examples you gave sound more like a Shout-Out, which would almost certainly fall under Fair use.

Also further, "the cobbler's children have no shoes" is a phrase that's much older than TV Tropes. A lot of our Trope Names are pre-existing terminology.

Thanks for all the help, gang! Now, if I can just write a coherent story, I'll be on the streets of easy, to bill a phrase.