The Internet has brought on a whole new era of content publishing. While the Internet makes content publishing exciting and easy, there are still legal issues that publishers need to be aware of.

At SXSW, WebProNews spoke with Attorney Robert Strent of Grubman, Indursky & Shire, P.C. about these very matters. The best scenario for publishers is to always get clearances and permissions. Although most start-ups are not financially able, Strent also advises publishers to seek legal guidance to make sure they are aware of their rights.

He says, “You need to own or control the rights to your content in order to be able to use it.”

You can be certain that you own your content if you have a work made for hire, if you have your employees create it, or if you obtained permission to use it. According to Strent, if you do not own the content or have a legal license to use it, you must have another legal basis for using it.

Many publishers claim “Fair Use” in order to use content, but as we previously reported, it is often misused. If you truly believe that you are protected under Fair Use, you should consult with an attorney to be absolutely certain.

Ultimately, if you have big goals for your content, Strent says you should be proactive now to ensure that you and your content are legally protected.