Do the Forum Rules need clarification ?

[jimmalenko]

Pretty simple. I think the rules are pretty ambiguous when it comes to downloaded material. Do we need to redefine the rules ?

[mats.hogberg]

No. We're all pretty aware of what's illegal and what's not. If it's illegal, we don't mention it. If it's legal we can. How hard can that be?

/Mats

[Cobra]

No. The rules are clear, and people know what's illegal and what's not.

VideoHelp should not have to hold people's hands. If they do anything illegal, let the mods deal with it. Most people do just fine with the current rules.

[jimmalenko]

It might be an idea for everyone to read this thread and this thread and this thread before commenting.

No. We're all pretty aware of what's illegal and what's not. If it's illegal, we don't mention it. If it's legal we can. How hard can that be?

Very hard. Different countries have different laws so what's illegal for you is legal for me and vice versa..


To quote the great man:

i often download tv-shows/episodes I miss from friends that has recorded it for me. it is a gray area of course. but it will be allowed to discuss.

AND

Downloading movies and tv-shows is basicly okey.

But if you mention that you downloaded an unrelased movie/tv-show, rent and copy, downloaded something from a p2p network, from my huge warez server or similiar it isn't okey.

This has nothing to do with any laws.

AND

It is not okey to say that you have downloaded tvshows from a warez ftp, p2p, torrents.
it is not okey to requests tvshows here.
it is not okey to link to tvshows.
then it is warezing.

sharing captured tvshows with your closest family / friends is okey but not with the entire world.

this is my rules...no laws.

legal/illegal doesn't come into it. It's what Baldrick says that goes here. I think the AUP does not accurately reflect Baldrick's views, and hope that this thread might bring it to his attention with the help of everyone here.

[pchan]

Sounds like lawmaker in Congress ...

[mats.hogberg]

It's what Baldrick says that goes here

Amen! But I interpret his views as "Illegal=Not OK, everything else OK" basically. So the AUP would be "Do as Bardrick does", or "The Collected Quotes of Baldrick"?

If I set the rules, they would be "Anything that might give MPAA or similar organisation an excuse to send a 'Cease and Desist' letter is not allowed"

/Mats

[jimmalenko]

But I interpret his views as "Illegal=Not OK, everything else OK" basically.

Unauthorised distribution of copyrighted material is illegal AFAIK (I would think it is a standard clause with any copyright unless explicitly stated otherwise, but I'm sure the legal eagles can confirm or deny this). To me this means that the person making the movie available to P2P is doing the illegal act, and not the downloader. So why does the downloader get punished here ?

I would assume that giving a copy of the TV show you taped last night to your mates is also unauthorised distribution unless explicit rights are given by the TV station. That said, why is this convened as OK yet the "innocent" party above gets punished ?

I don't mean to harp on it but I think consistency is lacking.

[Baldrick]

It is not okey to say that you have downloaded tvshows from a warez ftp, p2p, torrents.
it is not okey to requests tvshows here.
it is not okey to link to tvshows.
then it is warezing.

sharing captured tvshows with your closest family / friends is okey but not with the entire world.

this is my rules...no laws.

[jimmalenko]

sharing captured tvshows with your closest family / friends is okey but not with the entire world.

The entire world's people are my friends. Can I share with all of them now ?

[housepig]

I think the forum rules / AUP is a living document - it gets updated / clarified when necessary, in response to questions from the peanut gallery.

Baldrick is pretty quick to weigh in with more information if need arises, I don't think that we need to go through the AUP and nit-pick everything in one lump...

[Guest]

Sounds like lawmaker in Congress ...

Sounds like naked Geek

[yoda313]

Hello,

The entire world's people are my friends. Can I share with all of them now ?

If you want to risk it sure!!! (what ya offering??? )

Kevin

[tygrus2000]

I generally agree the rules are clear, but a few things should be considered:

1. Yes, it should be a living document and should be updated.
2. Make clear what is an interpretation and what is absolutely legal or illegal. Warez = illegal....perfectly clear, some other grey areas are not so clear and have people believing it is their right, when in fact it is more likely the other way. If it has a legal reference, link it.
3. Apply the rules with fairness, equality and with consideration. An innocent mistake should not be confused with a blatant attempt and these should be dealt with differently.

[hech54]

I'd like to see it go one step FURTHER.
I'd like to see the moron who says "...I just downloaded this movie...." get thrown out AND everybody who attempts to help him figure out how to get the movie to a DVD thrown OUT.

Doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside....

Love,
Hech

[Capmaster]

No. The rules are clear the way they are now.

I keep seeing the words "illegal" and "criminal" in arguments about the forum rules. True, that's a concern. But that's irrelevant here. This forum has its own rules that go a step further than the legal/illegal issue. IMO, they are sensible rules.

[tygrus2000]

capmaster, the rules are not 100% perfectly clear. They are generic in nature and reasonable, but they are not detailed and when put to some scrutiny they dont always stand up.

For instance, I got yellow carded for talking about a demo. No mention of demos in the rules that I can see.

[thor300]

So heck54 want us all out? Maybe he would feel quite lonely after a while, wouldnt be many users left here. "I downloaded this Xvid AVI.." could just as well be a home video from a cousin. I know i have sent home videos over the net in Xvid format, i doubt im the only one. However, i dont upload videos in 56 RAR files with an SFV, but i could if i wanted to.
Nothing wrong with the rules of this site IMO, still this topic comes up at least once a month for some reason.

[Capmaster]

capmaster, the rules are not 100% perfectly clear. They are generic in nature and reasonable, but they are not detailed and when put to some scrutiny they dont always stand up.

For instance, I got yellow carded for talking about a demo. No mention of demos in the rules that I can see.

The rules are clear. True, they don't spell out every possible way to get a warning. Much of that is left up to the discretion of the mod because there are circumstances and gray areas that make it not such a cut and dried matter. Sometimes a mod will even start a thread in the mod forum solicting the other mods for suggestions in a particularly difficult call.

There is no "menu" for infractions showing what the penalty will be for each different type of violation. You won't see one of those here.

[indolikaa]

this is my rules...no laws.

End of discussion.

[hech54]

So heck54 want us all out?

If someone is dumb enough to ask for help with a "downloaded" movie?...YES they should be gone(OK...at least given a verbal thrashing like "TRY BUYING THE MOVIE"). Odds are it is NOT a family movie they are talking about...especially if the word "download" is involved....

[yoda313]

Hello,

If someone is dumb enough to ask for help with a "downloaded" movie?...YES they should be gone

Search found 1085 matches
Click here to search for "downloaded movie" using Google in our Forum.

Just to prove your point hech54, looks like a LOT of people have asked for help on this topic!!

Kevin

[Capmaster]

yoda,
That's why the mods here aren't allowed to sleep

[yoda313]

Hello,

Capmaster -- Good point!!

Kevin

[hech54]

"So many pedestrians - so little time"...

[sacajaweeda]

I would hope that anybody who finds their way here to this site and asks for help has at least a lick of sense. Use discretion when posting in regards to things that are shady/gray areas, etc. If they can't figure that out, or take a subtle hint, or flat out refuse to do so, or choose to make an issue of such things, I believe this site is better served without their participation.

MY $.02

(sometimes not worth even a penny)

[jimmalenko]

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that Joe Blow reads the AUP and believes that his circumstances don't violate it. He posts his question, only to get a formal warning because the mod interpreted the AUP differently. He had full intention of compliance with the AUP but got caught in an ambiguity.

[indolikaa]

Bah, humbug! Card 'em all!

[dnix71]

Many of the "tools" posted here are illegal at least in the U.S. (like MTR) so legal vs. illegal isn't what gets people carded. I read forum posts before posting myself and made a point to see which people got slapped and for what, so I think I know what Baldrick doesn't want posted. When I was in college a long, long time ago we had alcohol for "sale" at parties without the required license, but had no trouble as long as it wasn't publicly advertised. You could get what you wanted legal or not if you knew who to ask and how to ask it. Too many people these days don't seem to know how to be discreet. 'Downloading' and 'file-sharing' have become a dirty words and serious financial risks these days, so it's in everyone's interest to imply you bought the movie even if you didn't.

[Capmaster]

I always thought it was how you used the tool that made it illegal ...not the tool itself

[indolikaa]

I always thought it was how you used the tool that made it illegal ...not the tool itself

I use my tool very well, thank you much. And always in a legal manner.




(Sorry folks, but a threadjacking is badly needed...)