Do you all know that you’re quoted here? This is weird.
http://www.cspecs.com/collaborative-specification
I think that these quotes were lifted from this forum.
Darn! I didn’t make the cut. Clearly, I need to work on writing in 1 part sound bite format. How else am I going to get famous for being well known?
That’s okay Nathan, I didn’t make the cut either.
That being said, this is a public forum, so I guess we better be more careful what we say, especially if another organization is going to grab it and use it in an ad for their product.
Insn’t that what cspecs is doing?
They do include something with my name under it, but I am certain that I didn’t write it (because I have never revised a manufacturer’s spec as I seem to be saying).
Steven, you’re right - Anne said it, not you, in this forum http://discus.4specs.com/discus/messages/23/4896.html?1297867529
Someone called me today, about something different, and wanted me to look at the cspecs.com website, and I saw these quotes, and it felt as if cspecs was using your names to sell something, and it felt weird.
One thing that you should do if you are employed by an architectural firm is talk with your legal counsel. If you have not ever worked with these people, there could be a implied connection.
With that said, this just isn’t the right way to market their product. They should have contacted each individual person and asked for permission.
Colin, this might also affect you, too. As operator of the forum, they are pulling advertising quotes from your forum. I am assuming that they have permission to do so?
As for me personally, I would like them to ask me for my permission to use it and if not then I would ask them to remove it. It is like you are endorsing their product.
Liz, this is fun!
When I went over the old thread you linked there is a post by me but they quote it as being by “Richard Howard”.
Ha! Well, I’m not sure it’ll be that fun for everyone.
Colin: Do you own the rights to whatever is posted on this forum, or does each poster retain the rights to their own posting? Taking another person’s qoutes without that person’s permission is likely copyright infringement (unless it falls under fair use, which doesn’t include marketing). (Disclaimer: This statement is not to intended to provide legal advice)
Liz,
Yes I agree. Solving the mystery of quotes disconnected from the names the are attributed to was fun, but this is a problem.
Perhaps they intentionally gave the wrong name for every quote thinking that the perfect defense is “Your honor, My client is innocent due to mental incapacity. My client is not capable of being responsible for their own actions”
Perhaps we can collaborate on a @specs “cease and desist” form letter?
Robin,
I do not have any terms of service on the forum.
Here is a link to an article discussing this - “Who owns forum posts?”
http://www.forumdr.com/who-owns-forum-posts/67/
I personally take the position that karma will clear up the problem. I think a specifier after seeing this thread will not recommend CSpecs to a manufacturer. I have yet to have a manufacturer ask me about CSpecs.
I looked at the page and decided to let it be. If an individual wants to request removal, ask and see what happens.
I just sent a message asking to be either removed or to be contacted to request permission. We’ll see what happens.
I pointed out that the quote was obviously copied from another source. I have no problem being quoted; I make sure that what I state in a public forum is what I believe and will stand up to scrutiny and I will stand behind what I write or say. But, I think they do not have the right to copy and re-post as if I am endorsing their service.
Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed.
(…and you can quote me on that)
If you make a public statement, which a forum post is, does someone else need permission to quote it? Forum users quote each other and other sources frequently, apparently without permission.
Gee, I was quoted three times! Actually, quoted once and erroneously quoted twice. One of my supposed quotes was made by another forum member, and my name appeared with the post that followed.
If you’re going to quote someone, get it right!
Sheldon, you’re right; so is George. It’s not the quote I’m objecting to, it’s the implication that I endorse cspecs.
If they would have put the quotes in context, stating that they had been copied from another source, based on the topic of manufacturer’s specs - or whatever - I’d also have less objection. But they did neither.
Perhaps I would endorse their service, but I was not given the option to say yea or nay.
@Sheldon - internet law is (as you can imagine) constantly evolving. But, generally, a person owns the rights to their own comments and quotes. The law is full of exceptions, one of which is “fair use”. So, if someone is quoting someone else without permission for purposes of education, they can argue that it falls under fair use and is not copyright infringment. The fact that it is a public forum typically doesn’t matter. For example, if i create a statue on a public street, the fact that it is created in a public forum does not mean i automatically abdicate my rights to that work (there are, of course, some exceptions such as people being allowed to photograph it etc). On a public forum, either the forum host (IE, Colin) owns the quotes if it is stated as such in the terms of service, or the original author owns the rights. On 4specs, the original author owns the rights and it appears Cspecs is using the quotes for commercial gain (not “fair use”).
That said, it is a different discussion whether the authors of these quotes care that cspecs is using them without permission.
(not intended as legal advice)
hmmmm
never heard of cspecs
I’ve not been quoted
I guess I don’t rate either
but than again I’m just a pion
I know there is an especs and a bspecs and of course 4specs…
seems like ispecs has not be snapped up yet
and mrspecs is for the other kind of specs
wonder if there is a zzzspecs?
zzzspecs only exists at 3 am (or other time) when all spec writers are asleep…
or gotchaspecs…
zzzspecs…lol!
Is someone implying that our specs put people to sleep?