Copyright Issues...
 

We have been wondering: Can we put the information found in www.usfirst.org directly on my team's website? And can we put the Aim High Game Video and all the FIRST documents on our website for downloading?

Thanks in advance

Re: Copyright Issues...
 

Using the info (preferably source quoted in parenthesis) in your own words is legal, copy/paste is plagiarism. As to the video, email NASA & request permission to post it directly.

Re: Copyright Issues...
 

All of the FIRST documentation and the "Aim High" animation shown during the kickoff broadcast are copyrighted materials. If you want to place copies of them on your web site, you will have to request and receive permission.

Is there a particular reason that you don't want to just post a link to the FIRST and NASA web site that have already made the materials available? This is a perfectly acceptable way of making the materials available on-line, and it avoids the hassles of copyright concerns. It also avoids have to copy everything over to your server and sucking up server space for what are then essentially duplicate files.

-dave

Re: Copyright Issues...
 

So are you saying all of us whom supplied mirrors during the first few weeks to help leviate burden to FIRST's servers and help in the speed of accessing should remove all files?

I find it handy as I can access the files all in one place and dont have to click through 10 links to find what I want.

-Mike

Re: Copyright Issues...
 

Here we go again... (we seem to go through this discussion every year. See this thread and this post for prior examples)

Yes. If you have placed copyrighted materials on your web site, and you did not request and receive permission from the copyright holder prior to doing so, then you are breaking the law. It does not matter how helpful establishing the mirror site is supposed to be, or what the intended purpose may be. An illegal act, no matter how well intentioned, is still an illegal act.

Look, nobody is trying to be exceptionally pedantic about this. FIRST is not likely to jump all over you and call the police just because you set up a mirror site. But part of our purpose here is to set an example for the teams of professional behavior. Part of being a professional includes a respect for the law - including copyright law. Plus, it is a simple matter of courtesy to ask someone that has developed such materials if they mind if you copy their materials to your site. Doing so, in addition to avoiding a copyright violation, is an act of respect for the efforts of the authors and just plain good manners.

-dave

Re: Copyright Issues...
 

there are two issues that people often overlook when it comes to copywrited material:

1. The copywrite gives the owner control over the material. If someone else copies it (to another website) then there is nothing stopping them from altering the contents, intentionally or accidentally. With things like the game rules, even a simple mistake, like dropping one word from the text can make a huge difference. ( you are allowed to use motors... vs you are not allowed to use motors...)

2. The copywrite gives the owner the ability to make changes, corrections and revisions when they need to. There is no way FIRST can notify all the teams who have mirror sites that a revision has been made, if they dont know where those mirror sites are?

Re: Copyright Issues...
 

In accordance to above posts, my files are removed, and I hope others follow as to not violate any laws/rules. Now if the whole world would do things and follow like this the world would be a better place...

Re: Copyright Issues...
 

I follow a rule--whether with FIRST, on another website, in an essay, or even informally--that I always state the source of specific information, and always use quotation marks and a citation when quoting exact words.

Re: Copyright Issues...
 

Thanks. I removed all the copyrighted files and stated the source wherever I used them. However, I am sure this issue will come up again next year, cuz as soon as someone put a FIRST document onto their website/essay, others will immediately follow... :o

Re: Copyright Issues...
 

Even then there is a limit to what you can 'copy' from a copywrite protected source.

Re: Copyright Issues...
 

As long as you cite and don't use the information to sell anything (i.e. make any money off of using that piece of copyrighted material) you should be fine. Of course the owner could ask you to take it down, but I don't think you could get sued or anything (unless you refuse to take it down obviously). :)

Re: Copyright Issues...
 

making money is not the issue. For example, you cannot copy music and put it on a website, and share it for free. Same with printed copywrite material.

"any form of reproduction" is prohibited, without written authorization by the author.

Some stores really push the fair-use laws. There is a supermarket in my area that plays music on the PA, and 1/2 or 1/3rd of the way through the song they interrupt it with some stupid "attention shoppers" announcement. Its pretty obvious they are not playing the whole song just to get out of paying royalties.

Re: Copyright Issues...
 

Hmm...you're right. I was thinking more of "shareware" sort of things where the original owner is not making money on it in the first place (no pun intended).

But yeah, the easiest way is to just ask for permission and hope they respond. :)

Re: Copyright Issues...
 

True; there's obvioiusly a difference between quoting a couple paragraphs from a book and citing that, and photocopying the entire book and putting it online with a citation.