Who owns...

Geoserv · #1 10-07-06, 11:35 PM

When a user posts a thread ona forum, who wons the post? I assume the forum owner, but it is a users submission, it is doneunder the assumption what you post is now owned by someone else?

Geoserv.

Angel · #2 10-07-06, 11:46 PM

Eh...I would think the user "owns" it, since they posted it. But, when I think about posting in a forum, I don't think about the rights for it, unless you are talking about an article/tutorial.

Geoserv · #3 10-07-06, 11:49 PM

I just thought about it and wondered the rule. Could the forum owner use any comment to help promote the forum?

Geoserv.

linuxhq · #4 10-07-06, 11:54 PM

Unless stated, all works posted on a forum by default are GPL. This means that they can be reproduced, as long as it is not sold commercialy or the copyrights removed.

Geoserv · #5 10-07-06, 11:59 PM

So if I post a thread and dont put a copyright o it, someone can use it elsewhere?

Geoserv.

linuxhq · #6 10-08-06, 12:04 AM

Bingo. When you registered for the forum, Im guessing you didnt read that long, boring "Terms of use" section

Geoserv · #7 10-08-06, 12:08 AM

Who does? Seriously.

That can open a can of worms, someone could post an article form someone elses thread anywhere if no copyright is placed on it.

Interesting.

Geoserv.

Jerlene · #8 10-08-06, 03:01 AM

Copyright is placed on it as soon as it's posted actually so if someone posts something from another forum, it's illegal. When someone posts anything on a forum it becomes the property of the forum and you give up all rights to it. Such a weird thing.

Brandon · #9 10-08-06, 07:55 AM

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That doesn't make a difference?

Angel · #10 10-08-06, 09:03 AM

Well, I think that only means you own the website (and don't you actually have to have a copyright license in order to put that there...? But, I know a lot of people don't follow that). However, I don't know if that actually means you own the posts. It's confusing...

linuxhq · #11 10-08-06, 09:11 AM

lol, okay lets try and explain the tangles of the judicial system:
1) In the Terms of Use ( that you all read of course ) their is usually a clause stating what copyright is placed on submitted content. I believe for this one is GPL
2) The copyright on this site does not affect submitted content, since it was declared in the terms of use as a serperate entity. The copyright applies to logos, images, and content outside of the forum, say a blog, or the seo section.
3) Content may be reproduced from one forum to another, as long as credit is giving to the parent forum and author. This is to cope with the GPL restrictions on distrobution. Some forums may have added a clause or changed the licencse type in their Terms of Use, people, accually read it next time you signup.

Geoserv · #12 10-08-06, 09:13 PM

hmmm...so the post is the property of the poster. Its kind of makes sense.

Thanks linuxhq