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"Do not use the forum to discuss pirate copies...

Printed From: FSI Language Courses
Category: Learning Languages
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: Discussion about studying languages using the FSI courses. If you would like to see a specific language forum not listed below, just let us know.
URL: http://fsi-language-courses.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=231
Printed Date: 16 January 2009 at 3:24am


Topic: "Do not use the forum to discuss pirate copies...
Posted By: onebir
Subject: "Do not use the forum to discuss pirate copies...
Date Posted: 13 December 2006 at 6:14am
...language programs."

(From the new forum guidelines)

The problem with this is that the copyright status of  resold FSI courses is (at best) moot.  I personally think they're also in the public domain, with the exception of courses like platiquemos that have been substantially improved...

Given this, i think it would actually be a good thing to have a place for members to talk about copies of these (with a legal disclaimer indicating that legal penalties resulting from any violation of copyright occur at the relevant members own risk).

Contributions from the member-lawyers as to the potential risks to the site/members/effectiveness of such a disclaimer would be welcome...



Replies:
Posted By: Chung
Date Posted: 13 December 2006 at 8:30am
(I can't find that thread from the lawyers because I think that it was part of the old forum which was deleted.)
 
The only problem is that in removing his original guideline and allowing your suggestion, gdfellows could be accused later of providing a space that lead to discussions of illegal file-sharing. The problem is that the copyright status of resold FSI courses is uncertain. Because of the uncertainty, it's best to err on the side of caution. After all, it is gdfellows' site and it is HE who will bear the liability for problems on this site.
 
I remember that post from one of the lawyers which said that because of the murkiness of the copyright status of resold courses, it's best to avoid them altogether on this site and not even give an opening for some hypersensitive resellers to sick their lawyers on gdfellows or do greenmail against this site.
 
Even though it may SEEM that gdfellows would be off the hook because of your proposed disclaimer, some hypersensitive resellers could still launch a suit on the grounds that he didn't go far enough in preventing such activity.
 
Such a lawsuit would surely escalate into gdfellows needing to present a costly legal defense to try to fend off the accusations. I remember that lawyer's point that proving your innocence in front of judge and getting exonerated may still be a hollow victory because of the high costs for the defendant involved in hiring a lawyer, making court appearances and furnishing evidence.


Posted By: gdfellows
Date Posted: 13 December 2006 at 11:41am
Chung accurately states my policy on this matter.  If a particular item carries a copyright, regardless of one's opinion of the validity of the copyright, it will not be made available here, nor will I provide space to discuss the "sharing" of such items. 


Posted By: onebir
Date Posted: 13 December 2006 at 3:44pm
ok - fair enough.  i just wasn't sure if you'd copied the rules from the other forum word for word.

i'd only add that exchanging physical copies of resold courses would be perfectly legal, and i imagine a fair few forum members have physical copies that are unused at any given time.  it's a shame there isn't a way to allow efficient use of these.



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