PopularFX
Home Help Search Login Register
Welcome,Guest. Please login or register.
2024-11-29, 12:46:49
News: Forum TIP:
The SHOUT BOX deletes messages after 3 hours. It is NOT meant to have lengthy conversations in. Use the Chat feature instead.

Pages: [1]
Author Topic: Are Forum Posts Copyright Protected?  (Read 20695 times)

Group: Administrator
Hero Member
*****

Posts: 3217
It's not as complicated as it may seem...
This issue has just come up.

I wonder if anyone has some expertise in this area.

Is a post made on a public forum copyright protected such that no one can copy it and post it on another public forum?

This happens all the time in these circles, but is it really allowed?

.99


---------------------------
"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe." Frank Zappa
   
Group: Guest
This issue has just come up.

I wonder if anyone has some expertise in this area.

Is a post made on a public forum copyright protected such that no one can copy it and post it on another public forum?

This happens all the time in these circles, but is it really allowed?

.99



Yes.
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#mywork

A better question would be when does a persons work enter into the public domain?
   
Group: Guest
I would say YES (it is copyright protected), unless the maker of the post/image agreed to certain rules/terms when he joined the group.
If the code of conduct states that all info which is placed is given away to the public domain then it would mean NO so anyone can and may copy it.

But i didn't read something like that when i joined this forum.

 :)
   

Group: Administrator
Hero Member
*****

Posts: 3217
It's not as complicated as it may seem...
Thanks,

This issue is regarding posts from EF being re-posted here.

Well I guess, every time we hit the "quote" button and quote someone else's post, even in the same forum, that should be considered copyright infringement also right? What is the difference in quoting a post in one forum or the other?

Or does placing it in quotes, or a quote box preclude it from infringement?

.99


---------------------------
"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe." Frank Zappa
   

Group: Administrator
Hero Member
*****

Posts: 3217
It's not as complicated as it may seem...
It would seem that users at EF relinquish their copyright as per:

Quote
By uploading, posting or otherwise transmitting through or to our website any content, you grant to us, our successors and assigns, a non-exclusive, world-wide, royalty free, perpetual, non-revocable license to use or distribute such content in any manner otherwise than as stated in our Privacy Policy.

.99


---------------------------
"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe." Frank Zappa
   
Group: Guest
If you put a few lines in the agree form when people sign up that should solve the problem for outgoing copy's.
But when the material that's posted here comes from other places that rule doesn't apply obviously.
So you put in some more lines stating it's not allowed to post copyrighted material from other places unless written approval is in possesion of he who does so and it will be removed if not.

But we all know how these things go and these are supposed to be open forums open source projects and so forth.
If they do not want the information out there they should simple seal the entire area from the outside world.

Anyway i don't think somebody will get arrested for copying some words...
   

Group: Administrator
Hero Member
*****

Posts: 3217
It's not as complicated as it may seem...

So you put in some more lines stating it's not allowed to post copyrighted material from other places unless written approval is in possesion of he who does so and it will be removed if not.

But we all know how these things go and these are supposed to be open forums open source projects and so forth.
If they do not want the information out there they should simple seal the entire area from the outside world.

Anyway i don't think somebody will get arrested for copying some words...

We do have that clause in our TOS. However, the issue is whether the material being re-posted here is copyright protected. It appears to me (see above) that if the material comes from EF, the answer is no.

.99


---------------------------
"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe." Frank Zappa
   
Group: Guest
yup if EF users agreed to that it's clear.

 :)
   

Group: Administrator
Hero Member
*****

Posts: 3217
It's not as complicated as it may seem...
A message to all OUR users:

If you wish to re-post posted material from EF, it appears that this is ok. However, it has been pointed out that Youtube does copyright the comments made on videos, so these are not fair game.

Please, before re-posting something here from another web site, check with that site's terms of service etc. to ensure that it is allowed. Unless the site relinquishes copyright protection from it's users, don't copy the material unless you receive permission from the site and/or author to do so.

I will advise if the situation regarding EF changes.

Thanks for understanding.

.99


---------------------------
"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe." Frank Zappa
   
Group: Guest
 ??? Frankly I fail to see how anything willingly submitted publicly in an open forum and can be copyright.  Wouldn't the person or persons making a post have to have applied for a copyright and hence set up legal documentation with the relevant authority for this to apply.  How else would they expect to enforce this or indeed have any ground for complaint?  

OK, I've just read CatLady's link and it seems it all comes down to whether or not the originator of the work, paper or post wishes to cause a fuss if their work, paper or post is copied. In reality it would not be a very good idea to post anything that you do not want copied, because bringing a lawsuit may not only be an expensive and time-consuming process, but also rather futile.
   
Group: Guest
As I understand it copyright is vested in the originator of any work.  It's applicable the minute there's original work put into the public domain in the name of that originator.  And proof of copyright is on the claimant.  Therefore - anyone and everyone is free to reference anything that has been put in the public domain - provided only that there is no 'pretense' being made that this is original work.   Reference to the name of the copyright holder is only a courtesy requirement.  Not a legal requirement.  Therefore breach of copyright can only be breached by plagiarism.  And plagiarism is associated with the theft or purloining of that original copyright as one's own.

Effectively therefore if you state 'this has been written - said - claimed - done' cannot be a copyright infringement.  And correspondingly if you state I have written - said - claimed - done ' where there is a previous claim - then it can be considered to be plagiarism.  If two people are of like minds - then that dispute needs to be settled in Court or by history - if history cares at all. 

Added.
« Last Edit: 2010-12-11, 05:20:21 by aetherevarising »
   
Group: Ambassador
Hero Member
*****

Posts: 4045
Q T

Question,
If I manufacture a product ,and sell it ,can some one come behind me, patent my product that I've been selling and put me out of business?

Thank you
Chet
PS
 I've heard this years ago but don't know if its really true.
   
Group: Ambassador
Hero Member
*****

Posts: 4045
Thank you ,
Just to be sure you understand
I have no patent!!,In the past as a small company I found that anything I tried to patent that was worth a S%$t,was quickly circumnavigated by much better prepared companies with tons of resources,

So I don't believe patents will help me here,I just want to make sure when I go to market  [actually already have with finale prototypes in place],that somebody can't pull the rug out from under me,by patenting my product that I'm already selling.

Chet
   
Group: Ambassador
Hero Member
*****

Posts: 4045
Its Design specific furniture ,to assist children with handycaps, specifically Down syndrome and autism!

Chet
   
Group: Guest
??? Frankly I fail to see how anything willingly submitted publicly in an open forum and can be copyright.  
I would agree in principle.
The Internet is a wide open public forum that anyone whosoever wants, can say whatsoever they want.  Additionally, Pres. Eisenhower signed an Executive Order making all patents searchable by the CIA for classifiable information in about 1951.  A year or two later, the British did the same thing with their patent system.

My opinion:
If patents are visible on the 'Web, they're in the public domain.  Patent text is, too.  Drawings, as well.  This forum has a public function of open research on on the same industrial application as the American "electrical" patent division.  You can build what you want, but you may or may not profit from it, though.  Courts are for deciding that.

--Lee
   
Group: Elite
Hero Member
******

Posts: 3537
It's turtles all the way down
A patent is basically a permit to sue, not a whole lot more.


---------------------------
"Secrecy, secret societies and secret groups have always been repugnant to a free and open society"......John F Kennedy
   
Group: Ambassador
Hero Member
*****

Posts: 4045
quarktoo
Kids are the best [tiny ones]!

This thing I'm doing makes me very sad sometimes!Really puts life into perspective.

@
ION
Quote:
A patent is basically a permit to sue!
-------------------------------
And that can really ruin your day!

Chet
   
Group: Ambassador
Hero Member
*****

Posts: 4045
quarktoo
I.d like to ask you some questions about your Marinov motor [like everything!]

Are You comfortable with discussing it?

Chet
   
Group: Elite
Hero Member
******

Posts: 3537
It's turtles all the way down
Quarktoo:

Nice build on the Marinov motor

Did you ever measure torque vs. input power.?

Was there a top speed to this or did it limit at some point?


---------------------------
"Secrecy, secret societies and secret groups have always been repugnant to a free and open society"......John F Kennedy
   
Group: Ambassador
Hero Member
*****

Posts: 4045
Teach you?

The older you get ,the less you'll know!

Chet
   
Group: Ambassador
Hero Member
*****

Posts: 4045
True
I have been wanting to ask you about something to do with religion!
But I still haven't got the question right in my head.
I know you've studied most religions ,and I like when you reflect on them,there is so much history and knowledge to be had in them.

Thanks for being here!
Chet
   
Group: Guest
A patent is basically a permit to sue, not a whole lot more.
Yeah, I agree.
The one with the most money often wins, except---possibly---in the case of Erin Brockovich.  She sometime wins, but she can make enemies, too:

http://www.brockovich.com/index.html

--Lee
   
Group: Ambassador
Hero Member
*****

Posts: 4045
Quarktoo
Quote:
So are you going to teach me something or mollify me? Everybody knows that certain something about something with certainly. If not, just fake it. I do it all the time.
 
----------------------
HHMMmmm..........
Almost seems related to what I want to ask you about?
I do this thing called Praying [well its really more like paying attention].

Teach?
Advice,
Pay attention!,you can't change the past,but every other breath has the potential to change the future,
be closer to the right now,right here!
Never close the door on the past ,but don't let it steal your life.
Pay attention,worrying about what might be, what could be ,steals your life a breath at a time.

Your right we all have something to share ,all the time, I believe this is the way the "Universe" works.
Thru us,
Pay attention.Its like a gift.
But I struggle with it all the time!

The other thing I need to "pray" /Think about.
Chet
PS

   
Group: Ambassador
Hero Member
*****

Posts: 4045
Unsubscribed is good[quite merciful]

However,
Quarktoo
Quote:
Well I have to go, I have been chumming the water for a year now and have a nibble. She is going to be a trophy!
--------------------
Oh the Horror!,what happened to the Eunich thing? ,you'll lose your MoJo!,the "edge"!!
Any how ,

Good luck with the squeeze!

Chet

   
Group: Guest
Erin's courage is born out of love and sometimes love manifests itself in conflict and struggle when others misbehave. The enemies of Erin are the badges of honor she wears forever. I rent her movie about once a year so she gets the royalty she has earned.
Well put.  She does make enemies and that can make her a target.

I'm "rootin"for the underdog myself.  I've been one while living on the streets, myself.  I know what it's like to be down and have people think you're no good.  Erin probably does, too.

Oh, there's an American law being considered in Congress that will regulate the Internet.  Really!!??!!??

What do you think about that?

--Lee
   
Pages: [1]
« previous next »


 

Home Help Search Login Register
Theme © PopularFX | Based on PFX Ideas! | Scripts from iScript4u 2024-11-29, 12:46:49