Joffa quoted by Geoff McClure

[Proud Pies]

I'm sure the Editor of the Age might like to hear about these things




----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Damn, I need a copyright symbol)
Copyright, not to be used without the express permission of the owner (me!)

[annewilo]

Dear All

I read with interest your comments re copyright and the internet. It is an avenue of law I have been involved with here in London and following further investigation into the current copyright laws I think you may all be shocked. You may also be interested at some stage to look at the data protection act, as many of us without knowing break these laws on a day to day basis, but thats another subject.

Unless I am mistakened, Mike has no copyright attached to this site. Hence everything that goes in here fits into the public domain. Whilst ownership may remain with the owner, there is no claim not to reproduce. Also because there are no conditions of use easily displayed (well I couldnt find them), we leave ourselves here at the mercy of the public. (and god forbid the media!!!!!...lol)

From what I know, a public forum without copyright within the site may be reproduced. And from what I can ascertain, the reproducer doesnt even have to notify reproduction in this case. Its different if a document is reproduced on the site that has copyright. If we use this instance, then we would all have to copyright all of our comments each time we do this. This is impossible, which is why sites have their own registered copyright to cover the site in its entirity.

I refer you to the following link that may be of assistance

http://www.copyright.org.au/PDF/InfoSheets/G056.pdf
(reproduced without the kind permission of the government!!)

Now I may be wrong here, but I cannot see on this site where it suggests that we are the owners of our material. There is a clause at the top of the home page that says this site is owned and run by its users. But still no copyright.

I suggest that something is placed on this site quickly to state that permission must be sought from each user to reproduce their own material. Once again, if it is in here, and I cant quite clearly see this, I do apologise. It may be a condition of joining but it certaining isnt for generic users. But this still wont protect fully as the rights of copyright.

Mike, what are your thoughts?

And before ppl jump on me, I have done the subjects in my law degree that cover copyright, liable and slander. Even though my expertise is involved in the UK within marketing law, its pretty standard throughout the world, as copyright laws dont vary that much. Hope this helps.

[Proud Pies]

I'm with Anne on this, even if there is something somewhere on the site that gives us copyright protection, it should be stated clearly on the forum for all visitors and thieves to see. I'm on a few mailing lists that state that everything is subject to copyright.

something like:

This site is subject to copyright and any use of any material cannot be used without the express permission of the owner/poster.

I know when pics are produced here and i want to send them on to others, i ask the poster if that's ok...i feel it's just common courtesy to do so, but as we've seen, not everyone is courteous.

Just my thoughts.

[CAAS]

Once you post something it is there for everyone to read. I agree totally with Anne.
IMO in is a good thing that he did put something in the paper, highlights what a bunch of utter morons they are in S.A. and that greater protection is needed for visiting teams.

But, its amazing that people are complaining that others are using there idea's as their own. I could name a few instances where this has happened but i would be opening a can of worms.

[Joel]

I think it is a good thing that he did put it in the Age, and it seems he emailed Joffa to ask permission/tell him he was going to run with the story (although he ran with it before Joffa even knew he was).

[Mike]

Anne, the reference you provided completely contradicts your advice.

What it says - my summary - is that if there is not a copyright statement that specifically allows copying, you cannot imply that the material can be copied, unless the page is set up in a way that obviously encourages copying, such as a 'printer friendly' button. In any case it goes on to say "It is unlikely, however, that you could imply permission to distribute copies to others, or to use the material for a commercial purpose." which is the bit that interests us.

Publishing material on the web (including bulletin boards) does not compromise ip ownership nor the right of the owner to control the use of the material.

I'll put together a statement for the front page anyway.

[Mike]

The argument is now academic - we have a copyright statement available at the bottom of the front page of the Bulletin Board.


http://www.magpies.net/nick/bb/copyright.htm

 

[Geoffy Pie]

hmmmm, i'm incrdibly confused right now

[Mike]

What I originally posted is correct Geoff

See Anne's reference for more detail

http://www.copyright.org.au/PDF/InfoSheets/G056.pdf

[Geoffy Pie]

yep, looks like Mr McClure has been a bad boy

[Nova Kaine]

Can't they get their own stories?

[Geoffy Pie]

obviously not, the world must revolve around collingwood or something

[Nova Kaine]

It does! WE are the Centre of the Universe, we are the kings!

WE are the rulers of the Universe bow to us!!

[Geoffy Pie]

Kiss our shoes

[annewilo]

Well you are right re the copyright registration in Australia, because unlike in the UK, you dont have to register it, like you do in London. As I say, I work with it here so my knowledge is London based.
"Copyright protection is automatic; there is no system of registration in Australia. A work does not need to be
published, or have the copyright notice on it, to be protected. From the time it is first written down or recorded
in some way it is protected, provided it has resulted from its creator’s skill and effort and is not simply copied
from another work."

But here is what I meant re the statement of noting this on the website.

"You should first check to see if there is a statement about copyright on the web site – web site proprietors often
state what they permit and do not permit in relation to material on the site.
If there is no statement about copyright, you may be able to imply, from the fact that the copyright owner has
made the material available on the Internet, that the copyright owner permits people to print and/or download
the material. You would need to be sure that the material had been made available on the Internet with the
copyright owner’s authorisation, and that the circumstances in which it is made available clearly imply"
permission to print and/or download"

And now that you have a copyright statement, you are well able to feel secure.

I am sorry Mike. You seem to think I was criticising, when I was merely trying to suggest ways to protect this site. For some reason I detect some type of tone of writing. I wasnt trying to tell you what to do, merely suggest ways to fix the complaints ppl had logged.

On other sites we visit over here, they insist everyone logs on to view content.Whilst this wont fix the problem of ripping, it does stop people and make them think before they do something perhaps untoward. What do you think.

Sorry for sticking my nose in.