A TEMPORARY MESSAGE FROM DR. SHADES

[_Dr. Shades]

Dear everybody:

Welcome back.

Unfortunately, this situation has generated a LOT of stuff that I'm in the middle of dealing with. Therefore, thanks for the well-wishes, but I won't be able to respond to anyone for the time being.

As soon as I can, I will A) give a detailed account of the goings-on so you know just what happened, then B) create a poll to get all of your ideas for ways we can avoid getting shut down in the future.

In the meantime, I have one request: **PLEASE** do not A) start any threads that contain polls, or B) post or link to **ANY** images whatsoever.

Thanks. Stand by to stand by.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Hello Dr. Shades,

If there's a way you can retain the image thing I'd appreciate it. You know... A picture is worth a 1,000 words & whatnot. I think it'd be a shame to let a fat, unemployed, loser change your board in such a fundamental way...

:/

V/R
Dr. Cameron

[_Dr. Shades]

Doctor CamNC4Me (and any other interested parties):

I've temporarily disabled the image posting feature pending an upcoming poll wherein I'll solicit everyone's opinion on how we can avoid SeattleGhostWriter-esque problems in the future.

Hopefully this setback will only be temporary, for if we are unable to "hotlink" any images whatsoever, then our forum will risk becoming inferior to other boards out there. On the other hand, we simply MUST find a way to immunize ourselves from future copyright-infringement notices to our hosting company. So something, somewhere has to give.

IN THE MEANTIME, I've been doing a lot of administrative maintenance, so if you have any problems with any other aspect of this site--posting, reading, whatever--please e-mail me at drshades1@gmail.com and I'll rectify the problem.

[_Kishkumen]

Although I know Shades is busy, I think this is worth saying right up front:

We need to migrate to a new server in another state.

[_Chap]

Although I know Shades is busy, I think this is worth saying right up front:

We need to migrate to a new server in another state.

Amen to that. I am astonished by the panicky reaction of this ISP to a threat so insignificant as that of Mr Mustache. But maybe that's CA law for you.

[_Morley]

Although I know Shades is busy, I think this is worth saying right up front:

We need to migrate to a new server in another state.

Or Canada.

[_Kishkumen]

Or Canada.

Hell, host it in Dubai for all I care, just so we are free of this kind of doofus cyber attack in the future.

[_Joseph]

Linking to a photograph or writing should present no problem. Posting the photos without permission of the copyright owner is the problem. If the image is in the Public Domain there is no problem.

As for ideas, you cannot copyright an idea. It has to be in tangible form. Those who complain others stole their 'idea' are foolish.

And yes, when I see posting of photos I know belong to others I let the owners know. It is just like 'borrowing' a car without permission - stealing.

I will(as I have in the past) let the site administrator know first.

I have posted information on copyright on this site in the past as I have warned some I suspected were using images without permission.

As far as the porn writer, I have never contacted this individual. If anyone wants to post his photos online for the purpose of critique and a discussion of the merits as art or on technique, that is 'fair use'. Also in that catagory is parody. Read some of this link for information on it: http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_a ... 9/9-c.html

This link will get you to a lot more information on copyright of images:
http://asmp.org/tutorials/copyright-overview.html

The fact that those caught for illegally using images are complaining is a lot like the whiners I used to hear working in the Corrections system and with jerks like Charlie Keating when he was put away. "everyone is doing it" is still unacceptable.

[_Eric]

Joseph,

Might I respectfully suggest that you go ahead and “F” right off?

[_Polygamy-Porter]

joseph, if the photographer or company does not want their image being linked and redisplayed, it is their obligation to implement technologies to prevent it.

Furthermore, why are sites like Photobucket and ImageShack still online and seemingly successful? Hell, Facebook has millions of copyrighted images that their users download and display! Yet Facebook is alive and well.

"Posting a photo", what does that mean?

If I use a IMG tag here is that "posting a photo"? NO that is LINKING .