Intellectual Property Rights

Micah Foehammer · 01-27-2009, 03:30 PM

Can anyone recommend a website that details what rights an author does and does not have relative to the use of his intellectual property by a website?

In particular, if an author provides content to a website as an unpaid volunteer, does that content become the property of the website or does he retain the rights to that content.

Any links that might help me research this issue would be immensely appreciated.

PS: THis query is NOT related in the least to Ironworks. LOL It's an external issue. Just thought that people should know that.

Variol (Farseer) Elmwood · 01-27-2009, 04:45 PM

Hey Micah, how have you been??

One of my customer's in an intellectual property law firm. I'll see if I can get an answer from them...

The scary thing is, I just emailed her before I read this.

Micah Foehammer · 01-27-2009, 05:00 PM

Except for the issue of the IP rights, I've been good.

How about you?

Bungleau · 01-27-2009, 05:10 PM

I suspect that it may depend on the T's and C's of the web site.

If they state there that all posts become property of the web site, or some such equivalent, then you're fresh out of luck.

Here's the text from a professional group I'm involved with:

Quote:

PEG reserves to itself all distribution rights to the PEG collection of mailing lists in any form. Messages or posts submitted to PEG become the property of PEG. Corporate members may distribute the PEG collection to their employees while their membership is active, but may not make the collection public.

Check to see what terms may exist.

Micah Foehammer · 01-27-2009, 05:22 PM

This is sole paragraph that applies:

The copyright for any material created by the author is reserved. Any duplication or use of content such as diagrams, sounds or texts in other electronic or printed publications is not permitted without the author's express permission.

Note that the phrasing refers ONLY to the "author" of such content and not to the website or administrator.

Bungleau · 01-27-2009, 05:37 PM

That'd be of interest, to be sure... looks like they're not claiming authorship of your material.

Micah Foehammer · 01-27-2009, 05:39 PM

I think they MEANT to but they worded it badly. LOL

Hopefully that will give me the legal in I need.

I guess I should have been more careful but who knew the site admin would turn out to be such a flipping prick.

Bungleau · 01-27-2009, 05:52 PM

You might want to print out or email yourself a copy of that... wouldn't take them much effort to change things, would it?

Micah Foehammer · 01-27-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bungleau

You might want to print out or email yourself a copy of that... wouldn't take them much effort to change things, would it?

DUDE! Awesome suggestion.

I just grabbed the text and am trying to get a screenshot as well.

Having trouble taking a screen capture on it though. Any suggestions?

ocellis · 01-27-2009, 06:19 PM

Press "PrinScr" (key above Insert), open MSPaint and select "Edit" -> "paste". Then save the file somewhere. I'm not sure if screenshots are admissible in court, though. In any event, google cache and/or archive.org should have backups of the site on which you could fall back on.

01-27-2009, 03:30 PM	#1
Micah Foehammer Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: November 15, 2001 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 3,253	Intellectual Property Rights Can anyone recommend a website that details what rights an author does and does not have relative to the use of his intellectual property by a website? In particular, if an author provides content to a website as an unpaid volunteer, does that content become the property of the website or does he retain the rights to that content. Any links that might help me research this issue would be immensely appreciated. PS: THis query is NOT related in the least to Ironworks. LOL It's an external issue. Just thought that people should know that. __________________ “Every tavern’s an opportunity, I say.” Last edited by Micah Foehammer; 01-27-2009 at 03:45 PM.

01-27-2009, 04:45 PM	#2
Variol (Farseer) Elmwood Jack Burton Join Date: May 16, 2003 Location: Dartmouth, NS Canada Age: 60 Posts: 5,634	Re: Intellectual Property Rights Hey Micah, how have you been?? One of my customer's in an intellectual property law firm. I'll see if I can get an answer from them... The scary thing is, I just emailed her before I read this. __________________ A MAN WHO WANTS FOR NOTHING HAS INFINITE WEALTH. (me) Last edited by Variol (Farseer) Elmwood; 01-27-2009 at 04:54 PM.

01-27-2009, 05:00 PM	#3
Micah Foehammer Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: November 15, 2001 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 3,253	Re: Intellectual Property Rights Except for the issue of the IP rights, I've been good. How about you? __________________ “Every tavern’s an opportunity, I say.” Last edited by Micah Foehammer; 01-27-2009 at 05:02 PM.

01-27-2009, 05:22 PM	#5
Micah Foehammer Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: November 15, 2001 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 3,253	Re: Intellectual Property Rights This is sole paragraph that applies: The copyright for any material created by the author is reserved. Any duplication or use of content such as diagrams, sounds or texts in other electronic or printed publications is not permitted without the author's express permission. Note that the phrasing refers ONLY to the "author" of such content and not to the website or administrator. __________________ “Every tavern’s an opportunity, I say.”

01-27-2009, 05:37 PM	#6
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	Re: Intellectual Property Rights That'd be of interest, to be sure... looks like they're not claiming authorship of your material. __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

01-27-2009, 05:39 PM	#7
Micah Foehammer Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: November 15, 2001 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 3,253	Re: Intellectual Property Rights I think they MEANT to but they worded it badly. LOL Hopefully that will give me the legal in I need. I guess I should have been more careful but who knew the site admin would turn out to be such a flipping prick. __________________ “Every tavern’s an opportunity, I say.”

01-27-2009, 05:52 PM	#8
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	Re: Intellectual Property Rights You might want to print out or email yourself a copy of that... wouldn't take them much effort to change things, would it? __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

01-27-2009, 06:19 PM	#10
ocellis The Magister Join Date: August 3, 2003 Location: Dis Age: 41 Posts: 121	Re: Intellectual Property Rights Press "PrinScr" (key above Insert), open MSPaint and select "Edit" -> "paste". Then save the file somewhere. I'm not sure if screenshots are admissible in court, though. In any event, google cache and/or archive.org should have backups of the site on which you could fall back on.

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