Copyright Policy – High Plains Modelers

The High Plains Modelers (HPM) website and social media properties contain links to other web pages, sites and documents, the contents of which may have been prepared by other individuals or entities. Information provided by other individuals or entities may be incorrect or not current. Users should use the information from this site with caution and rely on the information only at their own risk. HPM does not endorse any content, viewpoints, products or services linked from this website and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of such information.

Information on, or linked to, from this website is provided “AS IS” without warranty or condition of any nature. Some content on this site was developed with the assistance of AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot. All final editorial decisions and authorship belong to HPM and its officers, members, and authors.

Trademarks

Any content, trademarks, or other material that might be found on this website that is not HPM property remains the copyright of its respective owners. In no way does HPM claim ownership or responsibility for such items, and you should seek legal consent for any use of such materials from its owner.

Third-Party RSS Feeds

Our website displays content from third-party RSS feeds for informational purposes. HPM does not own, control, or endorse the content provided through these feeds, nor do we guarantee its accuracy, completeness, or reliability. The views and opinions expressed in the RSS feed content are solely those of the original authors or publishers and do not necessarily reflect those of HPM.

If you believe any content displayed through these feeds is inappropriate or infringes on your rights, please contact us, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

DMCA:

In 1998, Congress passed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which amended U.S. copyright law to address important parts of the relationship between copyright and the internet. The three main updates were (1) establishing protections for online service providers in certain situations if their users engage in copyright infringement, including by creating the notice-and-takedown system, which allows copyright owners to inform online service providers about infringing material so it can be taken down; (2) encouraging copyright owners to give greater access to their works in digital formats by providing them with legal protections against unauthorized access to their works (for example, hacking passwords or circumventing encryption); and (3) making it unlawful to provide false copyright management information (for example, names of authors and copyright owners, titles of works) or to remove or alter that type of information in certain circumstances. ~ The Digital Millennium Copyright Act | U.S. Copyright Office https://www.copyright.gov/dmca/

The High Plains Modelers club strives to respect the intellectual property rights of others. Per the DMCA, HPM will respond expeditiously to claims of copyright infringement on this website or social media if submitted in writing via our Contact the Webmaster form.

Upon receipt of a notice alleging copyright infringement, HPM will take whatever action it deems appropriate within its sole discretion, including removal of the allegedly infringing materials and termination of access for repeat infringers of copyright protected content.

Is It Fair Use?

Certain situations allow the use of copyrighted material without obtaining permission from the rights holder. In the United States, this principle is called fair use. Many other countries have comparable doctrines, often referred to as fair dealing.

Whether a particular use qualifies as fair use is ultimately a legal determination. Courts evaluate fair use claims by considering four primary factors:

The purpose and character of the use.
How is the material being used, and does the new use involve commercial benefit? Uses that transform the original—such as adding commentary, critique, educational insight, or new context—tend to weigh more favorably. Non‑commercial, transformative uses are generally more likely to be viewed as fair.

The nature of the original work.
What type of work is being used? Material rooted in fact (for example, documentation of real events) is treated differently from creative or fictional works (such as novels or major films). Using factual content typically leans more toward fair use.

The amount and significance of what is used.
How much of the copyrighted work is included? Using brief excerpts is more likely to be acceptable than reproducing large portions or the entirety of the work.

The impact on the work’s market value.
Does the use diminish the potential market or serve as a substitute for the original? If the new use could replace the copyrighted work or reduce its economic value, it is less likely to qualify as fair use.

Fair use assessments are highly dependent on the specific circumstances, and there is no simple formula that guarantees a particular outcome. If you’re uncertain about whether your use of copyrighted material qualifies as fair use, consulting a legal professional may be helpful. HPM cannot provide legal advice or determine whether your use meets fair use standards.

For more information on fair use:

Full disclosure: Information used in parts of this article was sourced from various reference articles found on other websites (see links above). We’re model builders, not lawyers, but we do believe in this case, the information here falls under fair use of the source material. Other information regarding the policies of the High Plains Modelers may be found on our By-Laws and our Privacy Policy pages.