Author Topic: Forum M42 style (Read 11245 times)

sheepdog · « **Reply #15 on:** June 29, 2007, 12:49:15 PM »

Quote from: Master;28763

Also what concerns the image copyright, I can imagine that being a problem, but we are a non profit organization, so the rightfull owners of these images, can't file a lawsuit on us anyway, as we make no profit based on this. And we can remove them on first notice, even if someone finds out we're using them.

Copyright can be a stupid thing sometimes, I imagine that the right holder of the pictures is the one who took them, but how about what's actually in the picture? It's like I take a picture of your car, and then hold the copyright for it, I think it's stupid.

It may be stupid, but yes, the photographer owns rights to the picture, however, he cannot use it without your permission for the car (unless it is impossible to identify your car from any other). You do not have to file for copyright anymore, it is instant. Filing for it, only improves your chances in a legal battle.

How are we non-profit? We have no tax exemption and because it runs on my server, it could be looked at in a much different way than you think. The Google banners could be construed as "for profit". Even worse is that there are M42club shirts being sold and keychains in the works, even if the site never saw any of that money (which it didn't), it still shows we are selling a product. It is a gray area that can work against us if someone wanted to press it.

Non-profit does not excuse you from copyright unless the copyright holder agrees to allow it free for non-profit use. They can easily send a cease and desist letter, I get about 1 per year for my other site alone and it is under the same circumstances as this place. Several BMW sites have been contacted by BMWNA to remove logos which was why I changed it. It is bad enough having a small company having a complaint with you, having a major corporation with lawyers on staff is another.

As a club member, you are buffered by all of this. The server and domain however are in my name, I am the one they complain to, or my ISP. It takes almost nothing to get a server shut down. Been there done that.

Master · « **Reply #16 on:** June 29, 2007, 04:27:38 PM »

Ok ,the pics are from the DVD "Chasing the Touge" i presume
http://store.driftingshop.com/chasingtouge.html
The pics were taken by Wes Tang, although I didn't find any contact info to ask his permission to use the pics.
These pics are also available for download as desktop wallpapers here:
http://www.livesockets.com/home2/index.php?channel=gallery
Don't know if asking them (livesockets) for permission is a good idea?

The pic of the motor I've found on one of my older hard drives, I think I got it by searching 318is with some p2p program, but we can always pretend it's one of our members (maybe it is actually)

Well sheepdog, I don't have a lot of experience in copyright, but we have 3 options here, either we ask livesockets.com for permission or hope that Wes Tang stil holds the rights to those pics, and won't sue us because he is in Japan, and can't/ doesn't visit forums about bmw
or scrape the whole thing and wait till I find some good pics I made myself to use for the design, and hope I don't sue you one day :-D

Are smilies copyrightable btw?

Also what about the picture m42club uses as its index
Its surely copirighted�
And also the one is currently used for header, I'm sure I saw it by googling "winding road"?

sheepdog · « **Reply #17 on:** June 29, 2007, 06:00:17 PM »

The one on the index I am unsure about and at one time was changed was was thrown back up after a problem. It was put up originally by another member to get the site rolling. We were much smaller then. We are at the stage where this stuff will begin to cause problems.

A new main site is in the works.
Same with this place. I have around a dozen sites I maintain, plus a normal job, things take a while. Which is why I hired a webmaster. With any luck soon this place will never have to worry about hosting or donations or anything else.

The picture used at the top of this page is rights free under a Creative Commons license. Anyone can use it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:TailOfTheDragon.jpg

Master · « **Reply #18 on:** June 29, 2007, 06:39:16 PM »

Quote from: sheepdog;28796

A new main site is in the works.
Same with this place. I have around a dozen sites I maintain, plus a normal job, things take a while. Which is why I hired a webmaster. With any luck soon this place will never have to worry about hosting or donations or anything else.

It means my "pretty" design won't be featured on m42club

I want my mommy (runs away crying)

Oh well, at least I tired

sheepdog · « **Reply #19 on:** June 30, 2007, 12:35:37 PM »

Quote from: Master;28799

It means my "pretty" design won't be featured on m42club

I want my mommy (runs away crying)

Oh well, at least I tired

Never said that.

One thing I have learned running forums, people may not like the look of it, but they deal with it. Major changes will cause people to leave because you can never please them all as well as you already have. Sounds tupid, but I have seen and had this happen several times.

And voting on it, is for the birds. People complain, you change it, round and round you go, finally it seems everyone is fine with it and you are ready. You implement it, and I can promise you with 100% certainty, people will complain. They wait until it is finished to speak up or you get the people who have not been around all week or whatever.

I have seen sites with 3 times the membership we have, redesign, and lose 90% of its members almost overnight.

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 02, 2007, 08:07:35 PM »

Wow, I didn't realize how much work goes into this stuff. I've got a lot more apreciation for you guys now...

ak96ss · « **Reply #21 on:** July 10, 2007, 07:20:45 PM »

OK, so WTF is going on with the forum now? Lime green in the quick reply box? Maroon?

I actually liked the blue...

sheepdog · « **Reply #22 on:** July 10, 2007, 07:22:24 PM »

Green makes it easy to spot what section I am editing.

ak96ss · « **Reply #23 on:** July 10, 2007, 07:29:53 PM »

Ahh, ok, as long as it isn't going to stay Christmas-y....

FL318is · « **Reply #24 on:** July 10, 2007, 08:46:47 PM »

For me the site is really more about a group of M42 owners and their cars.

I say this in great confidence as I too, at one time, had a site and forum. I am disappointed that the donations from shirts did not make it to the funding drum. AFA site design and direct correlation to complaints, I hope they are different here. I like the content here and as long as it centers around the car I am more than happy to contribute. I can go with whatever design scheme prevails.

Thanks for this place.

BTW, I like the red.

tjts1 · « **Reply #25 on:** July 10, 2007, 09:53:10 PM »

Is that my engine in the upper left hand corner? Sweet!

Shocker · « **Reply #26 on:** July 10, 2007, 10:09:18 PM »

To much red. :p

sheepdog · « **Reply #27 on:** July 10, 2007, 10:48:22 PM »

Quote from: Shocker;29401

To much red. :p

I kinda agree, I just gotta figure out how to thin it out a bit.

Eurospec · « **Reply #28 on:** July 10, 2007, 11:34:44 PM »

I like the new heading however I think the blue theme we had before was fine.

sumyungguy · « **Reply #29 on:** July 10, 2007, 11:39:19 PM »

The way it looks right now, looks great.. Now lets just do something with that header. Im willing to help or give up any of my photos for the forum, just let me know what your looking for.

Edit: Looking at the site on my pc and it's all red!

Poll

Should the forum design be changed?

Author Topic: Forum M42 style (Read 11245 times)

sheepdog

Forum M42 style

Master

Forum M42 style

sheepdog

Forum M42 style

Master

Forum M42 style

sheepdog

Forum M42 style

gearheadE30

Forum M42 style

ak96ss

Forum M42 style

sheepdog

Forum M42 style

ak96ss

Forum M42 style

FL318is

Forum M42 style

tjts1

Forum M42 style

Shocker

Forum M42 style

sheepdog

Forum M42 style

Eurospec

Forum M42 style

sumyungguy

Forum M42 style