[Air-L] Using screen captures in Thesis paper

[Emily Liu]

Dear All,

While doing my research on the online forum-based interactive gaming site (
www.gaiaonline.com), I have encountered another problem.

The site's Terms of Service mention that "The visual interfaces, graphics,
design, compilation, information, computer code, products, software,
services, and all other elements of Gaia Online provided by Gaia, including
without limitation any artwork, Gaia virtual items, Gaia Gold, Member
Submissions, Gaia Member Online Accounts or User IDs, or visual art and any
combination thereof (all of the foregoing, collectively, the "Materials")
are protected by copyright, trade dress, patent, and trademark laws,
international conventions, and all other relevant intellectual property and
proprietary rights, and applicable laws. Except as expressly authorized by
Gaia, you agree not to buy, sell, license, distribute, copy, modify,
publicly perform or display, transmit, publish, edit, adapt, create
derivative works from, or otherwise make any unauthorized or commercial use
of the Materials. You agree to abide by all copyright notices, information
and restrictions contained in any Materials." Yet I need to include
screenshots of the forum and user avatars in my thesis to illustrate my
research site and let others understand how forum-based role playing is
conducted.

I have tried to get authorization to use the site's images by writing to
their usertalk email, public relations email, and the site moderator, but
received no replies. In this case, can I still include screen capture
images in my paper? How should I deal with the issue of copyright or
authorization?

Thank you

Emily

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Min-Ju Liu (Emily)

M.A. Student in Applied Linguistics

Department of Foreign Languages and Literature
National Sun Yat-sen University