Copyright of usenet text posts

[TheGeekess]

Nop, there's only one provider who has the post as of today (see my other responses.)

One provider that you know of.

 

[Proserpina]

One provider that you know of.

And that's really the truth. There will be cached versions available all over the place, and that's without the original host coming into play.

OP, this honestly is a fruitless effort. You cannot forum-shop the way you describe.

This forum in and of itself is a fine example. Whatever you post here, stays here unless you're quick enough off the mark to delete the thread within the very short window allowed.

(And before you ask, us mere mortals are not privy to that magic number)

 

[TheGeekess]

Well the provider through which the posts were posted is out of business, so I can't find the service agreement. The posts propagated to hundreds of other providers who have their own terms, but I specifically did not agree to their terms.

Like that matters. It's USENET, not GoogleGroups. Usenet is one of the oldest 'places' on the Intrawebs. Been around a lot longer than you might think.

 

[justalayman]

the terms of the user agreement from that original host is important. If it allowed them to retain your post, they can do that. If it allows them to disseminate your post, they can do that.

If it transferred your copyrights, they you lost all control over your post. Most forums I have seen do not require you to relinquish your copyrights although it is not impossible for yours to have been that way.

So, let's say at a minimum, you granted a license for them to use your posts however they choose. Well, they chose to pass it along to this next host. Unless your agreement allowed you to have total control over your posts, there is likely no legal authority to demand they delete your posts.

You can always try the bluff game or the I think I'm right game and send them a take down notice and see what happens. If they refuse, then check your wallet to see how much you want to take out to attempt to make them do something.


I suspect your agreement is available somewhere though. Like everything else, it is simply a matter of finding where it is.

 

[TheGeekess]

the terms of the user agreement from that original host is important. If it allowed them to retain your post, they can do that. If it allows them to disseminate your post, they can do that.

If it transferred your copyrights, they you lost all control over your post. Most forums I have seen do not require you to relinquish your copyrights although it is not impossible for yours to have been that way.

So, let's say at a minimum, you granted a license for them to use your posts however they choose. Well, they chose to pass it along to this next host. Unless your agreement allowed you to have total control over your posts, there is likely no legal authority to demand they delete your posts.

You can always try the bluff game or the I think I'm right game and send them a take down notice and see what happens. If they refuse, then check your wallet to see how much you want to take out to attempt to make them do something.


I suspect your agreement is available somewhere though. Like everything else, it is simply a matter of finding where it is.

One notable difference between a BBS or web forum and Usenet is the absence of a central server and dedicated administrator. Usenet is distributed among a large, constantly changing conglomeration of servers that store and forward messages to one another in so-called news feeds. Individual users may read messages from and post messages to a local server operated by a commercial usenet provider, their Internet service provider, university, employer, or their own server.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet

 

[johnye]

One provider that you know of.

Sure, as I know of, but after many months of research I concluded that getting the posts out of there will result in a very low (almost nil) chance of being found.

 

[johnye]

If they refuse, then check your wallet to see how much you want to take out to attempt to make them do something.

Well, assuming that the wallet size may not be a problem, what are my options?

 

[quincy]

Well, assuming that the wallet size may not be a problem, what are my options?

If money is not an issue, hire an attorney to review your options, the options of which will be easier to determine after the attorney has personally reviewed the material online that has you so concerned.

Or don't hire an attorney now but wait for the material online to cause you legal grief and then hire an attorney to get you out of the mess you apparently have created.

If what you published online is from 2003, however, the chances of you recovering it from all the places where it may have traveled are probably slim to none.

Lots of luck, though.

 

[justalayman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usenet

I understand that but it does not change my response. Op entered some agreement so as to be able to post content. The terms of that agreement will determine what right op has in regard of control of his (most likely still his) copyrighted material. Just because I send you a letter and our agreement says I delete my content at any time but before I make that demand you give the letter to somebody else and go:

I'll delete what I have but it's too late since I gave it to XyZ and since you had no such agreement with them they can do whatever they want to with it.

The original rights are still intact and unless the agreement extended the right of the original host to a subsequent possessor of the material. That subsequent possessor has no right to publish the material without op's permission.

 

[Proserpina]

Well, there's also the teeny issue of proof.

Or rather, lack thereof.

How does one prove ownership of such a post?

 

[quincy]

... How about invoking law of another country(s) where I travel and may have businesses and convincing that provider that they're breaking the law? There must be some way out...

Why do you think another country's laws could assist you? Why do you think anyone is breaking the law?

And what is so absolutely horrible about what you wrote in 2003 that now, ten years later, you feel the need to have it removed? Did you write under your own name and is your own name so unique that it is only you who could have written whatever it is you wrote? Did you include photos of yourself?

Whether you had an agreement or not to share your copyrighted material with others, once something has been distributed widely on the internet (legally or illegally), recovering it can be an impossible task. I personally do not see any way out for you, johnye, no matter how deep your wallet. In fact, a name change would probably be easier and cheaper, as stands to be plastic surgery to disguise your appearance, if you happened to post a photo along with your name.

 

[Proserpina]

Why do you think another country's laws could assist you? Why do you think anyone is breaking the law?

And what is so absolutely horrible about what you wrote in 2003 that now, ten years later, you feel the need to have it removed? Did you write under your own name and is your own name so unique that it is only you who could have written whatever it is you wrote? Did you include photos of yourself?

Whether you had an agreement or not to share your copyrighted material with others, once something has been distributed widely on the internet (legally or illegally), recovering it can be an impossible task. I personally do not see any way out for you, johnye, no matter how deep your wallet. In fact, a name change would probably be easier and cheaper, as stands to be plastic surgery to disguise your appearance, if you happened to post a photo along with your name.

Completely agree (betcha surprised, aintcha? )

Let's take certain celebritarts. Their pockets will be far, far deeper than our OP. And yet even with all of the money they can throw around, those little nasty videos they take of themselves indulging in grown-up matters just wouldn't go away!

(NB: My use of the term "celebritarts" is satirical, refers to nobodyParisnobodyHilton in particular and I would never actually accuse anyoneParisnobodyHilton of actually being a celebrity so please don't sue me because my Steelers won, the Ravens lost and it's a fine day for Pittsburghians everywhere hence I wouldn't want to kill the buzz. Not that there's anything wrong with killing the buzz. Though I suppose it might depend on how said buzz was killed - there's no proof of anything and besides the buzz was asking for it)

 

[justalayman]

Well, there's also the teeny issue of proof.

Or rather, lack thereof.

How does one prove ownership of such a post?

Hey, stop raining on my parade. I had all sorts of geese left in the pen, and they are not domesticated.

 

[quincy]

Completely agree (betcha surprised, aintcha? )

Egads! A first on the forum!!

... I wouldn't want to kill the buzz. Not that there's anything wrong with killing the buzz. Though I suppose it might depend on how said buzz was killed - there's no proof of anything and besides the buzz was asking for it ...

If the police stop by and question you on the death of buzz, say nothing until you speak with a good criminal defense attorney in your area.

 

[johnye]

Why do you think another country's laws could assist you? Why do you think anyone is breaking the law?

And what is so absolutely horrible about what you wrote in 2003 that now, ten years later, you feel the need to have it removed? Did you write under your own name and is your own name so unique that it is only you who could have written whatever it is you wrote? Did you include photos of yourself?

Whether you had an agreement or not to share your copyrighted material with others, once something has been distributed widely on the internet (legally or illegally), recovering it can be an impossible task. I personally do not see any way out for you, johnye, no matter how deep your wallet. In fact, a name change would probably be easier and cheaper, as stands to be plastic surgery to disguise your appearance, if you happened to post a photo along with your name.

No photos. On your other post - yes I have a lawyer and this thread was to seek alternative views and I got them.