Wasn't there a time when they used to pay for any letters they published? … or was that another magazine?

Russell.

Can't say it would worry me; not that I would imagine anyone would want to publish any of my posts in ME. Any post, or thread, on the forum is already in the public domain, and the forum has a much wider audience than ME, since it can be reached via search engines.

Andrew

Been pretty much the situation since day one of the internet

By posting on a site you give them the rights to it

On the flip side if you post something naughty and they don't delete it they become jointly and severally liable for the post in a court of law

Varies from country to country, in places like Finland some people have shut their sites down because the legislation and interpretation is so strict

edit

The bottom line here is likely to be if they reserve the right to "own" all posts and republish them, and thereby profit from them, then they are making a contract to be jointly and severally liable for all posts made on that forum

Edited By Ady1 on 20/05/2013 12:33:06

Agreed. Unfortunately "courtesy" seems to be a rather forgotten thing these days.

Russell – in grumpy old man mode.

It's the internet. It's out there, for all to see. And use. Plenty of newspapers do the same thing with quotes from the public comments on their websites. Rule No1 on the net is don't post anything you would not say in front of your mum, and don't post anything you don't want to be available to the public FOREVER.

It's going to be real interesting when the first generation of Facebook teens reach middle age and their kids can look back through their FB timeline!

Putting myself in the shoes of an anonymous contributor to a forum – any forum, not necessarily this one – it would not bother me in the least if my text was lifted from the forum and printed elsewhere. In fact I would be glad my thoughts were considered interesting.
If I write something on a forum, am I not, by default, giving my permission for others to read it? What is the difference between publishing on a forum and publishing in print? It's all 'making public' at the end of the day.

If there are half a dozen contributors to a thread it would be utterly impractical to contact each and every one of them, wait for them to respond, etc. etc. before printing the thread in the magazine. If you think it is necessary to do so then the whole idea is dead in the water.

I am disheartened by some of the the posts above, especially at the intimation of discourtesy. I am glad now to see that some others see it as I do.

If you would like to see 'From the Forum' stopped please let me know.

Diane

Bother, double post deleted because my computer apparently stalled without posting, but it was telling porkies.

Andrew

Edited By Andrew Johnston on 21/05/2013 15:55:38

Forum post, printed in a magazine, billboard on the high street – who cares, it all helps to spread the word and enlighten. If the information is useful then why not publish it by whatever means are available.

Forum users should read the T's & C's BEFORE agreeing to becoming a forum member – how many of us do NOT read the small print and then bitch about it afterwards?

Get a grip!!

CB

Hi, well I can't see any problem with having posts printed in the magazine, after all any posts can be copied and printed by anyone. I personally have no problem with any posts that I have made and if it helps only one person with a problem or a query, then it's worth it. Is it not the main purpose of the Forum posts to help others without expecting any reward.

Regards Nick.

To be honest, I don't mind my posts being used, although I'll cringe if some of my attempts at humour get into the mag…

Personally I think that some of the build/technique threads on here would make great articles, if tidied up by the original author. If I was Diane Carney or David Clarke, I'd be relying on the forums for 'talent spotting'

Neil

Hang on, wasn't the previous previous editor of ME a DC as well – is this a conspiracy? I think we should be told…

Yes.

The written comments are created on the forum and remain the property of the forum, according to the T&C the poster agreed to before posting.

A photo was created outside the forum so the copyright belongs to the creator of the photo. Posting it on the forum does not give away the already existing copyright to the forum owner. So before it can be published in a hardcopy mag etc, the copyright owner has to give permission.