Author Topic: Forum open to the public  (Read 1011 times)

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Online ideasguy

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Re: Forum open to the public
« Reply #15 on: June 01, 2010, 09:54:50 PM »
A very good case Julie, thank you for posting.

I can't speak for all website administrators, but I have absolutley no problem with a person placing a link to any of my websites for personal use only - be it for data or for photos. Doing so, by necessity you have to save the URL, so the website is honoured and the person who saves the links always knows you deserves the credit.
Its the case where someone else tries to pass off my/our data to others, without giving credits and worse still, implying that the work is theirs - for profit. That is unacceptable.



Offline newplantguy

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Re: Forum open to the public
« Reply #16 on: June 01, 2010, 10:12:39 PM »
Julie makes some very good points, I have been thinking about public access and I think that it is needed, it does allow those who are interested in the software and those who may have some problems access to information without the need to register, I do not like to register on every Forum you have to remember which email and passwords you used.
I think the answer is that you should not post anything that you do not want others to print off or possibly use elsewhere.
It is very difficult to prevent the use of photos and information by those who will use it for their own use, here on this forum I think we are encouraging the sharing of information.
It is always good for others to post links to your site,  and photos etc, genuine use gives publicity and brings others to the site, these users will always give you a credit, those using it for their own benefit though should not be encouraged and I do not condone this in anyway.
I supply photos and information on a regular basis often this is free, I just ask for a credit, in most cases those wanting it for publication will not want to pay for it anyway, if they are writing an article for example they will say they are giving you free publicity.
I would monitor the use see how it goes.
Paul

Online ideasguy

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Re: Forum open to the public
« Reply #17 on: June 01, 2010, 10:49:54 PM »
Thanks Paul. Allowing access to guests helps any member who is promoting their own websites - business, charity or personal.

Going exclusive would stop the good guys enjoying our forum. I doubt very much if it would stop undesirable attention.

It is lamentable that the web and the tools we use to access documents and files facilitates the abuse of copyright material in this way.
Perhaps one day that will change.