so there is a certain (german) website, that has a collection of mini-tutorials how to achieve basic text effects
they are mostly very simple (example: pressed text by offsetting a duplicated, color-inverted layer on Mode:Screen)

this guy says his techniques are copyrighted and if i want, for example translate these tuts into english, i need his permission as he got the permission from the original "creators"

these original creators and website links are indeed on top of the tutorial page, but most of the links are dead, because these sites appear to be long gone

also these tutorials are made for, what appears to me, very early versions of Gimp

what im wondering is, can this guy really claim copyright for techniques ???
if that was the case, everybody could claim to have "invented" certain techniques and that nobody is allowed to spread them without his permission

I am certainly not lawyer, but that does not seem right to me. I haven't seen (or heard about) anything like that. And it's not like he's sat there and created really long, really complex tutorials that have thousands of techniques that he invented. From what you said, it sounds like he's using very basic, simple techniques that most people would generally figure out on their own. Maybe you could post a link to the site? And anyways, saying stuff like that is such a turnoff in the Gimp community, don't you think?

If it can be duplicated with GIMP it is open source creative commons licensed and cannot be copyrighted.

His "techniques" would have to be original in both idea and technique to be afforded copyright protection.

Then they would still be subject to Fair Use under 17USC107 in the United States.

He's full of beans.

added the adress of said page

Just because you create a car that also has four wheels, a windshield, rear-view mirrors, a steering wheel and a trunk, does not mean you have infringed on a patent right. Copyrights are very similar with only a few exceptions. Been down this road before using a competitor's website as a guide to make a similar one for someone else. We addressed several issues with an attorney and he said the same thing. Just because they are both blue and use the same font it doesn't constitute an infringement unless everything is word for word.

Like Mike said it would have to be an exact duplication and blatently claimed as your own creation before anyone would have any basis for a copyright issue.

IMO, if you do your best to give credit where credit is due, and state that it is your interpretation only and not the original work, reference that work as best you can, then I cannot see how anyone would have a legal leg to stand on.

I hope to see this tutorial here, reinterpreted in your own way.