# Clarify a mod note by WE? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 16, 2024, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarify-a-mod-note-by-we/1002946 "2024-06-16T14:33:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarify-a-mod-note-by-we/1002946/1 "2024-06-16T14:33:45Z")
In the _Song of the South_ thread, What\_Exit says “Please don’t link to sites showing non-Public Domain movies.” Now, I know he doesn’t mean to extend that to the absurd degree as in “please don’t link to anything on [archive.org](http://archive.org) because [archive.org](http://archive.org) is a site that shows non-Public Domain movies”, but how about just _mentioning_ that it is available on [archive.org](http://archive.org), a site generally concidered legit? (In fact there are several different copies that have been there for years.) > [@Song of the South is Racist as Much for What it Doesn’t Show as What it Does](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-of-the-south-is-racist-as-much-for-what-it-doesn-t-show-as-what-it-does/1000966/91): > > Moderating: Please don’t link to sites showing non-Public Domain movies. Especially ones belonging to massive corporations like Disney with more Lawyers than we have users. slight_smile ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarify-a-mod-note-by-we/1002946/2 "2024-06-16T14:40:10Z")
What I removed was a direct link to the movie with a preview and all. That was pretty clearly not something we allow. To answer the rest of your question, this is the best I can do. This is from the [Terms of Service - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/tos) **Copyrighted material.** Please observe the following rules regarding copyrighted material. - _Fair use posting of copyrighted material only._ You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by the operator of the SDMB, except as permitted by the “fair use” provisions of U.S. copyright law (in general this means brief excerpts only). If you are quoting published material it is good etiquette to provide a link to the source. - _File-sharing software._ Posts on how to use peer-to-peer file sharing software, virtual private networks (VPNs) and similar technology to evade copyright law are prohibited. Do not ask questions such as “How do I get this peer-to-peer sharing software to work?” or “Can someone help me find a copy of [song or movie clip] using peer-to-peer sharing software?” Debates on the legality of peer-to-peer file sharing are permitted. - _Reuse of posted material._ All postings and other material on the SDMB are copyrighted by STM. Republication of material appearing on the SDMB without express written permission of STM is prohibited, except that users retain the right to republish their own work. By posting on this board you grant STM and its successors and assigns a nonexclusive irrevocable license to reuse your posting in any manner it or they see fit without notice or compensation to you. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarify-a-mod-note-by-we/1002946/3 "2024-06-16T15:48:40Z")
With reference to that movie: It was produced and released by Disney in 1946, so its original copyright term was 28 years from that date. Disney renewed the copyright in 1973, extending it to 95 years after the original release date per U.S. copyright law at the time. With the copyright renewal, Disney retains exclusive rights to the film until 2041, which will be 95 years after its 1946 release. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarify-a-mod-note-by-we/1002946/4 "2024-06-16T15:50:03Z")
Which with less details was in my note. > [@Song of the South is Racist as Much for What it Doesn’t Show as What it Does](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-of-the-south-is-racist-as-much-for-what-it-doesn-t-show-as-what-it-does/1000966/89): > > As Song of the South is not in Public Domain until 2041, I removed the link completely. {What Exit?} ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarify-a-mod-note-by-we/1002946/5 "2024-06-16T16:49:14Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > What I removed was a direct link to the movie with a preview and all. That was pretty clearly not something we allow. Why not? Courts have upheld that links are not copyright violations so what is the reason? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarify-a-mod-note-by-we/1002946/6 "2024-06-16T17:37:47Z")
That is a question above my paygrade. But that has been the general policy here for over 20 years.