More LJA idiocy

[zippo138]

Recently I've been seeing another member of LJ asking a question about the Live Journal copyright policy, specifically LJA's interpretation of copyright law. The community bestcomment was suspended, supposedly this was the official reason:
"Dear LiveJournal user

Comments

[separated]

In answer to your last question, my estimate is 423,201.

[zzyzx]

More precisely, 423,201.789103847, approximately.

[separated]

We here in Oklahoma are firm believers in sig figs based on the amount of data given in the statistical okay I'm tired of using words.

[zzyzx]

Well, Mr .789103847 is a very vocal person; his pull is essential to victory.

[cowsandmilk]

you will have to form a legitimate incorporated business

since when was this a requirement to be a member of the press?

[elgorgo]

As for your "demands" as a paying customer, if you are unhappy, LEAVE.

LIVEJOURNAL: Love it or Leave it, but for the love of God don't try to change it!

[zippo138]

"LJ communities are not afforded press protections."
Are you a moron? Everyone has freedom of speech and the ability to use copyrighted material under fair use. It is not some special "press protection".

"If you want to harass commenters, you will have to form a legitimate incorporated business and launch your own website"
What the hell are you talking about? Since when is reporting the best comments from around LJ a instance of harassment. You should get your money back from the community collage.

"As for your "demands" as a paying customer, if you are unhappy, LEAVE. You don't have to pay to use the service, and consumer demands are often NOT met when they are irrational or unreasonable."My demands are neither irrational or unreasonable. The fashionable argument as to why LJA can walk all over people is that LJ is a business so they can do what they want. Well if that is true I am a paid customer and that affords me rights to which LJ as a business has to answer. If enough paid customers speak out then LJ as a business will

[fweebles]

Things said in an open forum can quoted, very true. But things are LiveJournal are not said, they're written.

Things written down, even on computers, are "written expressions of thought" and are copyrighted the moment they are written, copyright notice or not (barring the usual exceptions to copyright).

Speaking as a "regular user" and not as an Abuse Team member, I don't see what's wrong with a community that has actual quotes in it. Copyright written material is still (possibly) a copyright violation.

[fweebles]

Uh...don't even try to parse my last sentence, but I'm not even sure what I mean. I think I meant "Copying written material..."

[coolstring]

Would you like to point out where in Federal Copyright law that it says that everything ever written is copyrighted? Then can you show me where people who reprint those comments without any financial gain are, in fact, violating copyright?

And yes, I want the first point proven before the second ;-)

[fweebles]

Uh, which part of "(barring the usual exceptions to copyright)" did you not get?

My point was that his argument that they're "quotes" means they're not covered under copyright is fallacious, as they're not quotes. And second, you don't have to gain financially to violate copyright -- it just makes it easier to win damages in civil court.

[ghewgill]

"They are not regulated and have too much power..."
It always cracks me up when I read that. They don't have power, you have power. If you don't like it you have the right to vote with your wallet and leave.

[decadence1]

Thank you.

[zippo138]

What is the deal with you "love it or leave it" types? I also can make an issue out of it, and see how many other paying customers agree. Then as a group see if we can influence a change.

[insaint]

While I actually do happen to be on your side in this (as in, I believe people should be able to quote one another in a non-profit situation. For crying out loud, let's have a little more common sense around here and a little less The Law.), I gotta note that LJ isn't a democracy. "Love it or leave it" comes from the fact that it's far easier to leave than try to influence change. I dare say the latter is very nearly impossible.

I mean, anyone can be banned, with reason or without. It's a fact of life. In terms of policy decisions and such, LJ is a dictatorship at its finest.

[flashfire]

Lovely. More LJ drama in 5...4...3...2...1...

[ermac]

no, this isn't lj drama, it doesn't involve furries, therefore it's not interesting.