2008 Manual Mirror

[robotguy4]

Originally Posted by jtdowney

The encrypted manuals have been available since Thursday. They want to have a central dissemination of information. Probably a bit idealistic but you need to respect their wishes.

So... Are Unofficial mirrors still ok?

[Manoel]

Originally Posted by robotguy4

So... Are Unofficial mirrors still ok?

No, not at all. No, sir.

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by Cyberguy34000

Oh come on...

Perhaps I'm a bit biased on copyright issues, but this is ridiculous.

The manuals and kickoff videos are inaccessible for a lot of people, mirrors enable people to learn the rules. This is going too far especially when you consider how far that logic takes you...



We regularly show off FIRST game animations to new members and at demonstrations - (Public performances of a copyrighted work)

We print off manuals and give them to new members - (Unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material without permission of publisher)

We make 3d digital replicas of the field, and post them for others to use (Creation and dissemination of a derivatively work not covered by fair-use).


Seriously.... Where do you draw the line?

That is very, very simple to answer: you draw the line right where the law tells you to (yes, we have had this discussion before).

FIRST owns all rights to their publications, including the FRC game manuals. These documents are not in the public domain. Reproduction and/or redistribution without permission, and outside the fair-use exceptions, is a violation of copyright law. There is no simpler way of saying this: it is illegal. Period.

Yes, we all need to have our members review the rules. Yes, we want to tell the world about the program and what FIRST is doing. Yes, there are some great materials out there to help do so. But the fact is that making illegal copies of copyrighted material is still an illegal act, no matter how minor or necessary or well-intentioned the infraction may seem to be.

There are very simple ways to deal with this, all it takes is a modicum of effort. If we want our team members to have access to FIRST documents, then all we have to do is point them to the FIRST web site where they can download the documents themselves, or to any other authorized distribution web site. If we want to host an authorized distribution web site, then all we have to do is request and receive permission from FIRST to do so. After that, we are in compliance with the law and can openly distribute the materials within the bounds (if any) of the permission.

Once again, nobody wants to get exceptionally homiletic about this. FIRST is unlikely to 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. It is a simple matter of both compliance and courtesy to ask someone that has developed such materials if they would permit you to 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 rights-holder of the material, and is just plain good manners (which seem to be in very short supply this year).

-dave