# Just because it's in the net doesn't mean it's free! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 17, 2006, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758 "2006-10-17T08:30:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/1 "2006-10-17T08:30:44Z")
No, I am not going to rant about the mouth-breathing morons that think so, I am aiming higher this time. I am looking at you Univision. This is the second FUCKING time that I have to complain about our content being reproduced in your forums. As a matter of FUCKING fact every page of your Dominican Cooking forum contains some of our recipes. Last time I had to contact the FUCKING legal department to get some action. That got you fuckers moving FUCKING fast, eh! We are back again on the same horse. This is how it works you fuckers, FUCKING moderate your FUCKING forums. If recipe after recipe, posters by different FUCKING posters look the FUCKING same, chances are they are coming from the same source. It is just FUCKING easier to hide behind lawyer words than instruction your FUCKING mods to keep an eye on copyright violations. Your company is a FUCKING media conglomerate, for fuck’s sake. Respect for copyright is OK as long as they are your FUCKING rights. We run a small joint, yet we managed to produce hundreds of pages of quality, original content. We FUCKING monitor our forums for suspicious content, check on FUCKING Google and warn posters if we find them copying content to our site. Check the four pictures on our front page: two are original, taken by yours trully, one I bought, the other is license-free and Ok to use if you own a microsoft office license (which I FUCKING do). Each and every piece of our site is either original or used with permission. How comes I can FUCKING do that but you FUCKING big conglomerate can’t? I am pissed! Can you tell? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/2 "2006-10-17T09:01:36Z")
I am the rights owner of the (fully-capitalised) word _FUCKING_. My legal team will be in touch shortly. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/3 "2006-10-17T10:36:37Z")
Unfortunately for you **Mange** , I have patented the use of the business method by which one extracts payment by stating that one’s “legal team will be in touch shortly”. Cease and desist or face the consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/4 "2006-10-17T10:42:31Z")
Curses! Foiled again! ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/5 "2006-10-17T11:42:08Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Curses! Foiled again! [/QUOTE] I represent the cartoon villains with the long, twirly mustaches who tie helpless maidens to railroad tracks in order to lure the hero into a trap. We have that phrase patented. Expect a cease and desist letter shortly. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/6 "2006-10-17T11:43:16Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Curses! Foiled again! [/QUOTE] I hold the Patent on Foil. My Legal Team™ will call you in the morning. I _also_ hold the trademark on Legal Teams™. My _other_ Legal Team™ will _also_ call you in the Morning™… ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/7 "2006-10-17T11:52:13Z")
I am the holder of the patent on extremely funny jokes related to setting one’s highly trained solicitors on someone. I’m sure I can count on you guys to report any. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/8 "2006-10-17T12:28:08Z")
I hold the rights to the concept of _null_ - all you people who have not posted to, or read this thread had better watch out! ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/9 "2006-10-17T12:32:46Z")
I hold the rights to any monitor/coffee spray interactions. After reading this thread, I have to sue myself. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/10 "2006-10-17T12:39:33Z")
[QUOTE=Mighty\_Girl] This is the second FUCKING time that I have to complain about our content being reproduced in your forums. As a matter of FUCKING fact every page of your Dominican Cooking forum contains some of our recipes. [/QUOTE] [Recipes have very limited copyright protection](http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl122.html): > [@](#): > > Mere listings of ingredients as in recipes, formulas, compounds or prescriptions are not subject to copyright protection. However, where a recipe or formula is accompanied by substantial literary expression in the form of an explanation or directions, or when there is a combination of recipes, as in a cookbook, there may be a basis for copyright protection. ---
**Author:** ![nameless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/779978/32.png) [@nameless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nameless)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/11 "2006-10-17T12:51:33Z")
Guys, I patented breathing a long time ago, and I don’t remember licensing that out to _anyone_. Stop that right now. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/12 "2006-10-17T13:10:19Z")
[QUOTE=nameless] Guys, I patented breathing a long time ago, and I don’t remember licensing that out to _anyone_. Stop that right now. [/QUOTE] I have a beathing certificate right here, which contains a state seal and is signed by government officials. Your beef is with the state of Maryland. But you could probably sue the state to get your beef back. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/13 "2006-10-17T13:16:08Z")
Don’t hold your breath (ha ha, I kill me!) ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/14 "2006-10-17T13:33:50Z")
I own the internet. Get off my damn lawn. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/15 "2006-10-17T13:34:51Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] Recipes have very limited copyright protection [/QUOTE] I am not claiming I own the recipes, these are traditional recipes after all. I am sure though that they cannot copy them verbatim from my site. Need examples? > **[Univision](https://www.univision.com/)** > > La mejor cobertura en Noticias, Deportes y Entretenimiento. Lo mejor de nuestra programación de TV. > **[Chofán \[Video+Receta\] Arroz Chino o Arroz Frito Dominicano](https://www.cocinadominicana.com/chofan-arroz-chino-frito-receta)** > > Chofan (Chow Fan Dominicano) es la versión dominicana del arroz frito chino, un ejemplo de la influencia de la comunidad china-dominicana en nuestra cocina. > **[Univision](https://www.univision.com/)** > > La mejor cobertura en Noticias, Deportes y Entretenimiento. Lo mejor de nuestra programación de TV. [http://www.cocinadominicana.com/recetas/postres/tresleches.htm](http://www.cocinadominicana.com/recetas/postres/tresleches.htm) > **[Univision](https://www.univision.com/)** > > La mejor cobertura en Noticias, Deportes y Entretenimiento. Lo mejor de nuestra programación de TV. [http://www.cocinadominicana.com/recetas/bebidas/ponche.htm](http://www.cocinadominicana.com/recetas/bebidas/ponche.htm) > **[Univision](https://www.univision.com/)** > > La mejor cobertura en Noticias, Deportes y Entretenimiento. Lo mejor de nuestra programación de TV. > **[Ensalada Rusa \[Video+Receta\] Ensalada Mixta o de Papa](https://www.cocinadominicana.com/ensalada-rusa-mixta-papa)** > > La ensalada rusa (ensalada de papas) es un clásico de la cocina dominicana y latina, y plato obligatorio en nuestra cena navideña, aquí te mostramos las versiones más populares. > **[Univision](https://www.univision.com/)** > > La mejor cobertura en Noticias, Deportes y Entretenimiento. Lo mejor de nuestra programación de TV. > **[Yaniqueques \[Video+Receta\] Fácil y Rápido](https://www.cocinadominicana.com/yaniqueque)** > > Los Yaniqueques son deliciosas maravillas de comida rápida: crujientes, sabrosos e imprescindibles en una visita a Boca Chica. > **[Univision](https://www.univision.com/)** > > La mejor cobertura en Noticias, Deportes y Entretenimiento. Lo mejor de nuestra programación de TV. [http://www.cocinadominicana.com/recetas/pescado/lambiguisado.htm](http://www.cocinadominicana.com/recetas/pescado/lambiguisado.htm) I am glad you guys are having fun. I am still fuming. Excuse me, I meant FUCKING fuming. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/16 "2006-10-17T13:36:58Z")
By the way, that was only the \*first \*page in their forum! ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/17 "2006-10-17T13:57:28Z")
[QUOTE=Mighty\_Girl] I am not claiming I own the recipes, these are traditional recipes after all. I am sure though that they cannot copy them verbatim from my site. Need examples? [/QUOTE] Have you read the US Copyright office link? Some of us take the issue of copyright very seriously, and false claims of copyright are just as bad as piracy IMO. From what I can see from the examples you posted which I clicked on, there is no “substantial literary expression” as I understand qualifies for protection. Why are you sure “that they cannot copy them verbatim” from your site? What is your legal basis for making threats to them? Have you retained a lawyer or are you coming up with your legal basis on your own? And no, _I_ am not “having fun”. It may seem like it sucks when people copy things from your site, but you know, that’s the way it is. People who have scans of public domain 2-D works feel like they “own” their copy and put all sorts of legal mumbo-jumbo on their websites - but they have no real legal claim either. That’s just the way it is, and that doesn’t mean that your site is not a good and valuable site, and it is not a reflection on you or your abilities. FTR, this can be a very slippery slope here if you want to get technical about it. For example, have you independently verified the copyright of every single recipe on your site? People may claim they are “traditional” recipes - are your sure they didn’t copy them verbatim from a cookbook? And I’m not talking just Googling - perhaps 99% of all cookbooks published under copyright are probably not on Google. Do your members provide an affadvit that they are the sole creator and copyright holder of their recipes? Maybe they got them from a book in their family owned by someone else, who retains the copyright? Copying something which is copyrighted from someone “in the family” without express permission from the copyright holder could be construed as a violation as well. If it’s a “traditional recipe”, what was the first publication date? Was the copyright renewed? This could go on and on… I’m not trying to come down hard on you, but I’m saying you might want to take a step back and think about the facts of the situation for a little bit. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/18 "2006-10-17T14:00:19Z")
I wrote all these recipes Una. And as I said, the last time they had sufficient concerns that the head of their legal department contacted me and assured they would be removed inmediately. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/19 "2006-10-17T14:05:16Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] I hold the Patent on Foil. [/QUOTE] Only for use in hats, though! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758/20 "2006-10-17T14:05:27Z")
And by the way, they used to also hotlink to the pictures in our site. At least I put a stop to that too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-because-its-in-the-net-doesnt-mean-its-free/376758.md?page=2)