Question for Aredub, or anyone old school on this club

Chicane · #1 07-30-2003, 07:28 PM

Basically, there's this website, www.fiberglassics.com. They're all about classic fiberglass boats. I used to be a member there last year. Then I came back a few days ago, AND THEY WANT YOU TO PAY TWENTY DOLLARS TO POST ON THEIR FORUM. You don't get a T-shirt, sticker, or anything, just access to the forum. I've NEVER heard of this, and found it quite ridiculous, so I said so in their forum (by using my 7 day free trial). Also, they advertise their site as 'the first, finest, and FREE fiberglass boating community". THat's a load of ****. How is it free? Basically, the owner of the site said "Hey, we have the ONLY old fiberglass boat site, lets charge them $20.00 each so we can make money!" THATS LAME!

I found out they even have the server in their house, so all they're paying for is a net connection and a domain name.

SOOOOO, I started this site on Yahoo:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fiberglassics/

Check it out. I'm going to be adding old fiberglass boat information, stuff like that...

but here are my questions

Can I get into trouble for using the name "Free FIBREGLASSICS"? I'm not making money off this, so I don't see how legally, they can make me take it down.

Also, could I download some content off their site (some pictures), and add it to my own site? Is that LEGAL? I consider anything on the net 'public' information, and if I download it and host it on my own computer, what is the problem with that?

One thing to keep in mind is that they are publicly displaying brochures and information to things that they themselves do not have the rights to; the manufacturer retains those rights. So I really don't see how they could yell at me.

ORRRR, what if members were to email me images, that might also be hosted on their site? Is that illegal? I don't see how that could be illegal.

Thanks for your input.

- Rob

PS: I've already received a ton of support emails from people who didn't feel like paying the 20 dollar PER YEAR fee.... so I think I have a good idea here.

PPS: I also have 30+ members, and the site is barely 24 hours old.

SubaSteevo · #2 07-30-2003, 09:34 PM

If they themselves do not own the rights to the images or information and you are not profitting from it, there's not a damn thing they can do about it. If they *do* own the rights to images you may cannot use them without their permission (well you can, but they can make you take them down). Information that is "theirs" can be used as long as you A. Change it so it is not the same as theirs, or B. Give them credit (The same might go for pictures, but I'm not quite sure). If the images that you get e-mailed to you came from lets say a mailing list then I would think that they would be concidered public information, otherwise I believe they would follow the above rules.

P.S. I'm not 100% certain but I researched this a while ago when my friend and I had our own website so I think this is how it was (or atleast how it was then).

P.P.S. They can't really do anything about the name since you cannot copywrite a title (which is why some movies, cds, and books have the same title)

LarryIII · #3 07-31-2003, 04:36 AM

Rob,

I am not a 'boat person', but the classic punch line is:
"A boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into."

Landshark · #4 07-31-2003, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LarryIII
Rob,

I am not a 'boat person', but the classic punch line is:
"A boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into."

boats are like swimming pools IMHO - nice, but not worth the BS involved in owning one. better to have a friend with one. my friend has a 23' Baja.

LarryIII · #5 07-31-2003, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Landshark

boats are like swimming pools IMHO - nice, but not worth the BS involved in owning one. better to have a friend with one. my friend has a 23' Baja.

I didn't know that Subaru made a 23' long BAJA.

Landshark · #6 07-31-2003, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LarryIII

I didn't know that Subaru made a 23' long BAJA.

its the new amphibious option.

Chicane · #7 07-31-2003, 11:21 AM

I disagree. I bought a 60s boat, working engine, and trailer for $100.00. So far I think I've spent..eh.. about 60 bucks on it, and I don't have that much more to do. I'll have a working boat that looks pretty decent for under $350.00

- Rob

Landshark · #8 07-31-2003, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chicane
I disagree. I bought a 60s boat, working engine, and trailer for $100.00. So far I think I've spent..eh.. about 60 bucks on it, and I don't have that much more to do. I'll have a working boat that looks pretty decent for under $350.00

- Rob

dock, gas, storage? i guess if its a small boat its not a big deal, but when my buddy fills his gas tank, its something like $200 a pop. if you're gonna trailer it somewhere all the time, and you can store it in your backyard during the winter, then you could get by kinda cheap i guess.

Chicane · #9 07-31-2003, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Landshark

dock, gas, storage? i guess if its a small boat its not a big deal, but when my buddy fills his gas tank, its something like $200 a pop. if you're gonna trailer it somewhere all the time, and you can store it in your backyard during the winter, then you could get by kinda cheap i guess.

My dad lives on the river, so I don't even need to trailer it very often. In the winter I'm going to keep it on a hoist that my dad's neighbor doesn't use anymore. This isn't a racing boat, it uses regular 87 octane gas with some oil mixed into it. >shrug<

:P

- Rob

NikFu S. · #10 07-31-2003, 06:23 PM

that Baja is pretty slick. i think you may be on to something.

oh yeah and burgundy is totally correct on the issue. just dont post anything copywrighted.

svx_commuter · #11 07-31-2003, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LarryIII
Rob,

I am not a 'boat person', but the classic punch line is:
"A boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into."

The SVX is hole in the atmosphere we throw money into.

lee · #12 07-31-2003, 06:50 PM

Rob,

I think using the exact name with it's spelling fiberglassics WOULD get you in trouble. Even fibreglassics could bring trouble if you are blatant in emulating their site, i.e., a reasonable person felt you were trying to copy them. It's the "g" thing IMO. Two things could bring you unwanted attention: 1) you get successful doing this, and/or 2) you ridicule any person/organization having a retained/staff lawyer.

As to images, it's a case of who owns the copyright. If the images they show on the site are direct from the manufacturer you're probably OK, but it's best to ask the OEM. However, if they are photos they (fiberglassics) took themselves of the products you are probably in trouble. It will in almost all cases be best if you take the photos of the items yourself. IMO You're only in trouble if you make disparaging & unsubstantiated remarks about a product(s) while using copyrighted images (see unwanted attention item #2 above).

You could contact the manufacturer and tell them you are doing a product review, and will publish results (both good & bad) unless contacted - that should fill your mailbox with letters from lawyers.

NikFu S. · #13 07-31-2003, 06:51 PM

more like a vacuum to space and my money gets absorbed by osmosis before it can replicate...
O_o''''

Landshark · #14 07-31-2003, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chicane
This isn't a racing boat, it uses regular 87 octane gas with some oil mixed into it. >shrug<

:P

- Rob

my buddy's boat takes 87 octane, too. the gas station on the river gouges people because they are the only one around. his boat does have a big gas tank, though. >shrug<

Trevor · #15 07-31-2003, 08:57 PM

Rob what sort of boat do you have ? length, Inboard, outboard, open or cabin, round bilge, V bottom deep or medium, etc. Having owned boats I am interested. Does your river give you sea access or are you way inland ?

Yes we know all about the hole in the water thing but there is another which says there is "nothing else quite as worthwhile as messing about in/with boats".

Could not check out your site as Yahoo tells me it does not exist !?