Look at the back of book for an example or even movie ads. They don't use the entire review, just some key points. For example, "It's a must see" or "I have eaten at many Italian restaurants in this city and I can attest that #*$!X is the absolute best."

Several newspapers have written reviews on our restaurant, and I'd like to know if I can legally put the articles on my website (quoted and with references of course).

You may quote a few sentences freely - this is known as "Fair Use". Before using the entire article though, you should make contact with them and ask permission (try contacting the reporter who's name is on the article). You'll find that they will be very happy to give you permission.

Syzygy

Considering the number of resturants that have copies of reviews, often printed on a mounted piece of metal or framed, I assume that newspapers do give permission, perhaps with a charge. It is certainly worth a try.

Context is a main factor.

Here's something else to think about.

Let's say that restaurant writer X says, "Cabo X is a great Mexican restaurant. I recommend them."

4 weeks later he goes back, changed his mind and writes, "Stay away from Cabo X. Their food has went downhill since opening night and is nothing more than a glorified McDonalds."

In your ad, you use comment #1. Is this legal? Are you misrepresenting the writer's true and current feelings on the matter?

I guess the point would be to make sure the writer has not written anything else that's a change of view since.

Here's something else. Let's say Tom Cruise ate at your place and said he liked it in an interview somewhere. Next, you go building a huge campaign that you are tom Cruise's place. Since you are now making money off of his name, do you owe him compensation?

If you want to publish the articles on your own site, then the answer is no. You may, as others have suggested, publish small excerpts, eg: The Elbonia News said "... was the best prepared steak this side of Widgetville ..." but to republish the whole article, you need permission from the newspaper/magazine concerned.

But then you said:

I would just link to their articles, but they also have ads for our competitors on the same site and the look isn't fluid with our site.

If you want to put up a "press reviews" page on your site which links to the online versions of the reviews, I can't see a problem with this, as you are not republishing, you're linking to the original source.

Assuming the reviews are good ones (otherwise you wouldn't want to link to them, would you!) you'll have to take pot luck that readers will be exposed to ads for competitors. As for the look of the other sites, too bad. One person's design heaven is another's design hell, and unless you were planning on framing the other sites within your own, why would it matter that their look doesn't match? :)

I assume that newspapers do give permission, perhaps with a charge.

Yes, they give permission. No, they do not charge!

Fair Use is more complex than simply allowing someone to use some content of a copyright holder.

Fair Use only becomes complicated when lawyers are involved! :-) There is nothing complex about the query posted here.

Syzygy