Copyright/posting recipe rules

[Non Cognomina]

I got an email from the Chowhound moderators recently informing me that I could not quote long passages of text from online news sources or the FDA website (it was in regard to the recent spinach issues). I am wondering if I am allowed to post a recipe in a thread requesting a specific recipe from a Claudia Fleming cookbook that I have.

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

Before I go the the trouble of typing it in, I'd like to know if it is or isn't acceptable to post, and a little more clarity on the copyright rules. Thanks.

[The Chowhound Team]

The "spinach issue" has been discussed here recently. Please refer to the link below:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

Thanks.

[Bob Brooks]

I don't believe anything published by the government is copyrightable since we, the people, own it. So I would imagine stuff on the FDA page should be copyable at will.

[JoanN]

Excellent point, and you are indeed correct. I just found this on the FDA Website:

"Unless otherwise noted, the contents of the FDA Website (www.fda.gov)--both text and graphics--are not copyrighted. They are in the public domain and may be republished, reprinted and otherwise used freely by anyone without the need to obtain permission from FDA. Credit to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the source is appreciated but not required."

[Non Cognomina]

Interesting. I think I had posted info from the FDA website regarding the spinich situation, but it was removed. I'll include that info in the body of the post if I include text from their website. Thanks.

[JoanN]

You may quote the ingredients exactly as listed in the original recipe, but the instructions have to be paraphrased in your own words.

[Non Cognomina]

JoanN, is this an official chowhound rule, or copyright rule? Thanks.

[JoanN]

Both, actually. A list of ingredients can't be copyrighted, but what an author does with that list of ingredients, and how s/he phrases it, is intellectual property and is protected under copyright law.

[Non Cognomina]

Thanks.

[The Chowhound Team]

Thanks for asking first. We don't allow the posting of copyrighted material from other websites or publications.

If a recipe is available online, we recommend linking to that resource directly.