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Copyright theft and Barbelith

Less searchable M0rd4nt

20:45 / 15.07.05

What's the law like as regards linking to sites that link to dodgy copyright-thefty materials? Could we potentially get into trouble over this? I'm thinking specifically of this thread, which is a bit of a favourite of mine but which includes links to sites that are less than kosher.

Just a thought.

Spatula Clarke

22:39 / 15.07.05

I've no idea about the legal implications, but I'd probably be happier if the links provided were to the websites this stuff was on, rather than direct links to the files themselves.

*Stupidly* Why?

Because it puts a barrier up between us and the files - it creates some distance between the board and the PDFs which currently doesn't exist.

Providing direct links sort of makes that thread somewhere that's offering those PDFs for download itself. Where can I get a PDF of such and such a book? You can get it from this Barbelith thread. It makes it too easy, like we're a portal for it. Linking to the sites that host the files instead means that there's an extra step to go through and doesn't make it appear as though we're putting them up for free download ourselves. It's just an image thing, really.

lekvar

00:16 / 16.07.05

This has been on a number of sites recently.
In essence, an Australian man was found guilty of copyright infringement for simply providing links to other sites where mp3s were illegaly downloadable.

I like the Temple PDF thread, so it pains me to say that it mmay be of dubious legality.

Olulabelle

00:44 / 16.07.05

Oh OK. Thank you Dupre, that does make sense. Sorry for being so dim.

Katherine

10:58 / 16.07.05

There are some legal areas with providing links, however bare in mind places like occult forum's library which links to loads of pdfs directly.

If a pdf is legally placed on the web such as one of a Aleister Crowley book then usually from what I have seen the OTO when they find out will deal with the person/site who posted it up orignally. Usually the link goes dead or the owner of the original site will say they have had a legal letter.

I'm not claiming to be a legal mastermind but from what I have seen looking for occult pdfs, the author or copyright holder will approach the site and ask 'please if you don't mind...' rather than legal process. Also musci companies are more likely to sue mainly because the amount of money they are losing from this infringement. A lot people will read a pdf then buy the book, hence no-body loses out indeed a lot of the pdfs I have read are not so easily available perhap from over the web.

w1rebaby

12:52 / 16.07.05

I don't think Barbelith is in any danger. If somebody posts something stupid like "here is where you can download a pirate copy of the Liber Something, it's illegal but hey, who cares about laws" then we might be seen to be encouraging copyright breach, though the chances that anyone would actually sue are miniscule (and I think there was more going on in that quote case, reading between the lines - we're not in any conspiracy with anyone to boost traffic for a start). Otherwise I'm pretty sure there's no problem.

Quantum

09:10 / 16.08.05

I looked at an old thread with pics looky to discover a big squidge obscuring the pics saying Barbelith stole the image and bandwidth.

Whuzzat?

Less searchable M0rd4nt

09:34 / 16.08.05

Strictly speaking, they're right.

When someone posts a picture here that's hosted on someone else's site (hotlinking), it cadges a bit of that site's bandwith. Where big commercial sites are concerned it's a drop in the ocean, but with smaller personal sites it can be a real drain. That's why people often replace that pic with a message pointing out that the offendig site is pinching their bandwidth.

We're lucky it wasn't Tubgirl, really.

Quantum

12:35 / 16.08.05

Now I feel bad about the Get Get Get thread.

Char Aina

14:11 / 16.08.05

you could always get a flickr.com account and only ever link from that.
like, if yer guilt gets too much.

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