Re: [nafex] Copyright issues

["Greg Miller" <gsmiller@cet.com>]

On 11 Dec 2000, at 12:45, edforest55@hotmail.com wrote:

I feel some clarification is in order.

> "Articles may be reprinted as long as credit is given to its authors
> and Pomona." 

> This is found on the front cover of every Pomona.  The above
> notice clearly allows us to share information found in our egroup
> as well as Pomona, I have ingnored the objections of a few who 
> think that I need to re write material or request permission from
> the authors. I would encourage the rest you to do so also, as a
> right that isn't used is a right that is lost.   

While the above statement IS printed in POMONA (although recently 
amended according to the fluffy one), there has NEVER been a 
similar notice published in any FAQ or rule of this list.  There has 
been discussion on the copyright issue in the past, and there has 
been divided opinion on the matter every time it comes up.  One of 
the constructive results of prior discussions was that Jackie 
Kuehn would ask permission of any authors before reprinting any 
material in POMONA.

There has never been any implicit surrender of copyright by 
posting a message here. 

> Here is an example of the circumstances under which I have shared
> material: occassionally I will come across questions by other
> fruitgrowers on line and realize that we had just had a discussion
> of the issue in our egroup.. So I copy and paste the info and then
> email it giving credit to NAFEX and its author.  

I have to acknowledge that many of the messages posted (on any 
variety of subjects) are well written and more thorough than any 
comment I would compose myself.  It's admirable to help others 
with questions, but I don't see that doing something helpful for one 
person eliminates the need to respect the concerns or wishes of 
another.  Some authors might give carte blanche to forward 
messages to others, some might do so on a case by case basis, 
other might never grant such permission.

While much of the discussion to this point has focused on the legal 
issues, how about looking at the courtesy and respect side of the 
question?  Since some people do object (strongly, to say the least) 
to forwarding of their messages, what is the problem of asking 
their permission?  Any request along those lines is going to take 
less time to compose than the original author spent in composing 
their message.  I don't buy that asking permission is oppressively 
burdensome.  

> I think that it is imperative that the list administrator make this
> right clear to all new members by stating it clearly in the agreement
> (or whatever it is we read before we join) This right is elemental to
> the spirit and original intent of our group.

I would view making that change to be a *proposal* to change our 
existing practice, rather than a *clarification* of existing practice.  

Perhaps in the early days of NAFEX when everything was done 
by hand and through snail mail, it was implied that you shared 
whatever you got.  With email it is not burdensome to ask 
permission first.  

Greg Miller

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