Is using other websites content on your own legal?

[Jon Nguyen]

I building this website and I want articles from yahoo,cnn, cracked, wired, along with other websites/ bloggers. Those articles/ photos will be FULLY cited and have a direst link back to the origin site.
These articles will help my website gain traction. Once I get enough articles on my website, I will put advertisements on there.
Is that legal?
What do you guys/ gals recommend?
Are there any websites where you don't have to ask for permission to use/ monetize their articles?!
Thanks. Give me some feedback!

[Inda Cloud]

Actually, using other folks articles will do very little for you. As well, unless you ask directly for permission, then you are violating copyright and could be looking at a haul into court, depending on who you're dealling with. A good rule of thumb is: if you didn't create it then don't use it.

[G N A]

What you're going to find is that every one of those articles and images are not free to use..And the big thing is going to be seeing your site disappear in the search results because it has already been published elsewhere. One final thought, even if you cite where you got them - the original publisher can contact your hosting company and have your site taken down simply by saying you stole their content.

[gn1252]

It is definitely not legal and will almost surely get you into legal trouble. There are some websites where the use of articles is permitted, provided you follow their rules and procedures. This normally means giving them full credit under their instructions. Some of the sites include:

1) EzineArticles.com
2) GoArticles.com

There are many other similar sites. Just do a search for "article directories" and read their terms and conditions.