# Comments on Registration Agreement **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 1, 2007, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404 "2007-06-01T22:19:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/41 "2007-06-02T02:20:11Z")
The reason that the Reader needs to share copyright is that they’re “publishing” your material, on this message board, and deriving revenue from said use (subscription fees and advertising revenue), and they don’t want you to have grounds to sue them for doing so. It’s just ass-covering, really. Why do you care? Are you planning on publishing your collected works some day and don’t want to have the potential advance reduced because you don’t have exclusive control over 1800 posts worth of message board blather? ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/42 "2007-06-02T02:22:48Z")
[QUOTE=alterego] The fact that, given the wide ranging rights I gave the Reader when I signed up here, they are not required to attribute my own work to me. That is evil, and that’s why the Creative Commons was created - so I could pick the rights they have. [/QUOTE] Well, yeah… but CC is intended for creative works. Not message board blather. If you were **Sampiro** , you’d have somewhat more of a case for concern, but unless you’re planning on coining the next “threepeat”, I don’t think you have much to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/43 "2007-06-02T02:24:35Z")
Question: So, if I’m writing a TV sitcom, say, and love a long, highly-articulate, incredibly creative insult I find on the board, and decide to incorporate it into a rant by one of my characters, am I violating the Reader’s copyrighted material by using it? ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/44 "2007-06-02T02:24:54Z")
[QUOTE=Brainiac4] The reason that the Reader needs to share copyright is that they’re “publishing” your material, on this message board, and deriving revenue from said use (subscription fees and advertising revenue), and they don’t want you to have grounds to sue them for doing so. It’s just ass-covering, really. [/QUOTE] I’m pretty sure this notice was around before the Reader started showing ads and collecting fees. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/45 "2007-06-02T02:30:25Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] Question: So, if I’m writing a TV sitcom, say, and love a long, highly-articulate, incredibly creative insult I find on the board, and decide to incorporate it into a rant by one of my characters, am I violating the Reader’s copyrighted material by using it? [/QUOTE] Not at all. > [@](#): > > Republication of material appearing on the SDMB without express written permission of the Reader is prohibited, except that **users retain the right to republish their own work.** ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/46 "2007-06-02T02:39:06Z")
[QUOTE=alterego] The fact that, given the wide ranging rights I gave the Reader when I signed up here, they are not required to attribute my own work to me. [/QUOTE] The Reader is not required to give you notice or to compensate you for use. I see no reason to assume that use of your post under the shared copyright would not be attributed. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/47 "2007-06-02T02:44:39Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] I see no reason to assume that use of your post under the shared copyright would not be attributed. [/QUOTE] Huh? Why would I trust someone who wants permission to use my posts without attributing them to me to attribute them to me? Why are we even talking about trust? I’m talking about the fact that what they have demanded is completely unnecessary when they could accomplish the goals other posters have outlined as the Reader’s motivations by just putting specific conditions in the agreement. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/48 "2007-06-02T02:49:12Z")
> [@fluiddruid](#): > > [Quote=ArchiveGuy] > > Question: So, if I’m writing a TV sitcom, say, and love a long, highly-articulate, incredibly creative insult I find on the board, and decide to incorporate it into a rant by one of my characters, am I violating the Reader’s copyrighted material by using it? Not at all. > [@](#): > > Republication of material appearing on the SDMB without express written permission of the Reader is prohibited, except that users retain the right to republish their own work. [/quote] With all due respect, and with great care lest I am banned, I must disagree. If **ArchiveGuy** was the _author_ of that insult, you’re right. If another poster (such as myself, for instance) was the author of such an insult, you’re wrong. Dumbass.[sup]TM[/sup] Rights available upon request. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/49 "2007-06-02T02:53:07Z")
[QUOTE=alterego] Huh? Why would I trust someone who wants permission to use my posts without attributing them to me to attribute them to me? [/QUOTE] Where does the agreement state they are allowed to use it without attribution? Without notice and without compensation. Very simple, really. Though you are not as flat-out stupid as **andrewdt85** , you are as equally making a mountain out of a molehill. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/50 "2007-06-02T02:57:00Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] Where does the agreement state they are allowed to use it without attribution? Without notice and without compensation. Very simple, really. Though you are not as flat-out stupid as **andrewdt85** , you are as equally making a mountain out of a molehill. [/QUOTE] You are quoting the wrong part of the agreement. > [@](#): > > a nonexclusive irrevocable right to re-use your posting in any manner it or they see fit ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/51 "2007-06-02T03:04:09Z")
[QUOTE=alterego] You are quoting the wrong part of the agreement. [/QUOTE] What part of the agreement did I quote? Do you sincerely believe that “in any manner” includes a lack of attribution? Is the potential lack of attribution what you find evil? Can you demonstrate any use of a post by the Reader which was not attributed? ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/52 "2007-06-02T03:07:25Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] What part of the agreement did I quote? Do you sincerely believe that “in any manner” includes a lack of attribution? Is the potential lack of attribution what you find evil? Can you demonstrate any use of a post by the Reader which was not attributed? [/QUOTE] I used attribution as an example, and I explained that classes of license such as CC allow you to choose which rights to grant. Here, the Reader has simply taken all of them in one fell swoop. Replace “attribution” with “x” in my posts. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/53 "2007-06-02T03:13:13Z")
[QUOTE=alterego] I used attribution as an example, and I explained that classes of license such as CC allow you to choose which rights to grant. Here, the Reader has simply taken all of them in one fell swoop. Replace “attribution” with “x” in my posts. [/QUOTE] Ah, then what we have here is a fundamental disagreement on the use of copyright. As you disagree with the Reader’s claim to a shared copyright of your posts… well, what then? You now know of the claim, yet you continue to post. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/54 "2007-06-02T03:20:59Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] You now know of the claim, yet you continue to post. [/QUOTE] No, no, **Frank** , he knew of it all along (after all he read it and he’s not an idiot), he just “noticed” it recently. I guess he feels that something he wrote recently is so breathtakingly brilliant that he’s planning on having it published and that made him think about potential copyright issues and so he looked over the Agreement and “noticed” the clause in question. Also, with regard to the question between you and **fluiddruid** , I would assume that you could always go to the author of the pithy quote and get permission. The Reader’s rights are nonexclusive. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/55 "2007-06-02T03:21:26Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] Ah, then what we have here is a fundamental disagreement on the use of copyright. As you disagree with the Reader’s claim to a shared copyright of your posts… well, what then? You now know of the claim, yet you continue to post. [/QUOTE] What do you mean “now what?” The consequence of my disagreement was me posting this thread. The implications of your suggestion that I resolve this difference are tantamount to mod trolling. Carry on, Frank. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/56 "2007-06-02T03:29:19Z")
[QUOTE=alterego] The implications of your suggestion that I resolve this difference are tantamount to mod trolling. [/QUOTE] Oh, piffle. Where have I claimed to be speaking as a mod? The words at the bottom of the screen have been there since I joined the board, years before I became a mod. > [@alterego](#): > > but if he left the board because it violated his principles, I would call that anything but stupid. That’s removing the dissociation between what you think about the world and what you actually end up doing. This is a common theme we see on cognitive psychology - a dissociation between someone’s thoughts and their actual behavior. If he had the balls to actually act on his reasoning in the face of a group of SDMB fanboys, more power to him. The implications, I think, are clear. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/57 "2007-06-02T03:33:42Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] Oh, piffle. Where have I claimed to be speaking as a mod? The words at the bottom of the screen have been there since I joined the board, years before I became a mod. The implications, I think, are clear. [/QUOTE] Not really. A more intelligent strategy would be for me to voice my concern and bide my time. Change does occur around here. Just slowly. I am confident that my reading of the agreement is correct, and if it has been changed once, it can be changed again. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/58 "2007-06-02T03:35:57Z")
[QUOTE=alterego] I am confident that my reading of the agreement is correct, and if it has been changed once, it can be changed again. [/QUOTE] Have fun storming the castle. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/59 "2007-06-02T05:11:42Z")
I thought that Lendervedder chap’s comment was funny. ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404/60 "2007-06-02T12:17:26Z")
[QUOTE=alterego] Not really. A more intelligent strategy would be for me to voice my concern and bide my time. Change does occur around here. Just slowly. I am confident that my reading of the agreement is correct, and if it has been changed once, it can be changed again. [/QUOTE] So what rights should the Chicago Reader have over your posts? Not forgetting that people leave the boards all the time and may no longer be easily contactable. They do not want to have to delete all your posts because that decimates threads. They also want to be able to publish them in other forms without having to contact 66,000 members, plus all the guests that have ever signed up but have not become members. Write down what the agreement should say. It is no use saying the agreement is wrong then hoping it changes. The next changes may not be to your liking either, are you going to complain then too? Unless you say what the agreement should be the Chicago Reader is not going to keep changing it by trial and error until they get it to your satisfaction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comments-on-registration-agreement/406404.md?page=4)