I like it! It's not a burden to do, nor operate with. If part of it, or all of it is a link, then it's a quick and dirty answer to many questions too. Good value added there.
That might be a little too innocuous. I don't think I've ever read any forum user policies... Since this one is going to be very different than anything I've seen, maybe license should be more conspicous...
I don't think I've ever read any forum user policies...
But then whose fault is that?
Just to toss some mud in the water, a copy of the User Policies could be emailed out to the current users. Any new users have to check that they agree to the policies when they register. I've had a few emails that fall under that sort of scenario.
Additionally, as added protection to Parallax and all forum users, whenever the forum user policy has been changed, a notice should probably be emailed to every forum member, informing them that changes have been made, which is a pretty common technique used by websites.
EDIT: A simple generic email script would handle this nicely.
Didn't I say that? Curse my overly subtle language!
LOL Yes, I suppose you said something similar, however I think a simple notification would do the trick. Take ebay or paypal for example, they simply notify you that changes have been made.
There's a facility in the forum software, which I've seen used, to display a banner headline that can be dismissed once the user has read it. It appears to all users who have not yet seen it. This might be a good place to announce the new policy.
I don't think anybody from any other forum would expect that any code they posted is automatically MIT.
I agree and that is where it could get tricky, but if you are going to enact such a policy, you should do everything in your power to protect your business and everyone involved.
FWIW, I've never considered anything I say in a public forum to be off limits to others. If you say or demonstrate something in public, it becomes public domain. While I still own (am responsible for) what I say, the implication is that I've "let the cat out of the bag" per se. It goes back to the "if you want something kept secret, don't open your mouth" philosophy.
Should your car check the GPS location and match it with the speed limit for the road and remind you "The speed limit on this road is 45mph. (OK/CANCEL)"?
My GPS does that by disclaimer instead of OK/CANCEL Not sure I could imagine what would happen if you press CANCEL. LOL
If you say or demonstrate something in public, it becomes public domain.
No it does not. Technically when you create a work you have copyright automatically. You have to do something to allow your audience to use/copy/distribute it. You need a license. Just showing it is not enough.
It goes back to the "if you want something kept secret, don't open your mouth" philosophy.
Try telling that to the people who make advertisements, for sure they want you to get the advertisement but they don't want you to mess with it and re-transmit it.
Now that I think about it more, I think I would ask a lawyer about this...
Wouldn't want to end up like Facebook and in court every other day over their user policy...
On the other hand, maybe nobody would really post anything here that they would go to court to protect....
Rayman,
Interesting, instagram (aka FaceBook) recently announced that all those photos people have been uploading belong to them to trade in however they see fit.
Needless to say there was a bit of a riot about that.
Anyway, the Gracey's are allergic to lawyers, which seems like a healthy attitude to me.
IMHO, the whole thing about warnings and such is way overblown. The original intent here was to formalize what we've been doing without incident for a long time, not start to flag the place as hostile, and frankly I think the idea of making sure people know the score is one thing, reminding them of it constantly is just onerous and undesirable and unproductive too.
I'm not completely sure I agree that this is just formalizing what we've been doing, although others have said that in this thread...
I remember discussions about this before and the end determination is that code posted is copyrighted and does not have a license unless specifically stated.
I do like this new way better though, and hope they figure this out...
...the end determination is that code posted is copyrighted and does not have a license unless specifically stated.
Technically, if you can use "technical" to describe the law, that was true.
But, being human beings we naturally assume that "I say this" and "you say that" on a public forum is a conversation that anyone can listen in on and do what they like with. Like having a chat with your mates down the pub.
Only here the "chat" involves source code some times. I don't see how that makes any difference.
In fact I think the pub analogy is very good.
Don't expect anything you reveal whilst having a beer down you local pub to be a defensible item in any kind of, copyright, patent, nda agreement.
Easy.
Comments
That's pretty innocuous and easiest to set up. Any objections to that?
Seems like a good balance to me, bonus for being easy to setup.
C.W.
But then whose fault is that?
Just to toss some mud in the water, a copy of the User Policies could be emailed out to the current users. Any new users have to check that they agree to the policies when they register. I've had a few emails that fall under that sort of scenario.
EDIT: A simple generic email script would handle this nicely.
Wow! I even like this one!
Good job, Bruce! (you haven't licensed it yet, have you?
LOL Yes, I suppose you said something similar, however I think a simple notification would do the trick. Take ebay or paypal for example, they simply notify you that changes have been made.
LOL Nope.... I hereby relinguish all rights to any suggestion I have provided in this thread
I don't think anybody from any other forum would expect that any code they posted is automatically MIT.
-Phil
I agree and that is where it could get tricky, but if you are going to enact such a policy, you should do everything in your power to protect your business and everyone involved.
My GPS does that by disclaimer instead of OK/CANCEL
Wouldn't want to end up like Facebook and in court every other day over their user policy...
On the other hand, maybe nobody would really post anything here that they would go to court to protect....
Interesting, instagram (aka FaceBook) recently announced that all those photos people have been uploading belong to them to trade in however they see fit.
Needless to say there was a bit of a riot about that.
Anyway, the Gracey's are allergic to lawyers, which seems like a healthy attitude to me.
I remember discussions about this before and the end determination is that code posted is copyrighted and does not have a license unless specifically stated.
I do like this new way better though, and hope they figure this out...
But, being human beings we naturally assume that "I say this" and "you say that" on a public forum is a conversation that anyone can listen in on and do what they like with. Like having a chat with your mates down the pub.
Only here the "chat" involves source code some times. I don't see how that makes any difference.
Don't expect anything you reveal whilst having a beer down you local pub to be a defensible item in any kind of, copyright, patent, nda agreement.
Easy.