The END :: View topic - Wasting time and resources yet again for very little...

Resident

Hi folks,
well there you have it that is the letter shown above that I spoke of from Moray Council. Norma and Gordon F thank you for your replies already,(http://www.end.forumwise.com/end-post-142.html#142), but I would like to hear from everyone as to what their thoughts are..

Oohh dear I just noticed that that letter has the Moray Councils logo on it perhaps I should have edited that out for fear of absurd legal action Confused

John Allan · Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 10:20 pm Post subject:

Dear Resident,
I have read the letter at least 6 times and I am unsure of what to say other than it is very strange that the council feel this is the route they should take as after all you are simply providing links to their respective websites one of which is YOUR council and the other of which Moray council are only one agencey out of many.

Do you intend to leave their links and logos in place?

I will get back to you on this subject very soon but I must say I think their request is ludicrous and very petty.

Masingo · Joined: 22 Jun 2007 Posts: 21 Location: Elgin

I think the point the letter is making is not about the links to the council website but about the use of their logo on the frontpage of the site. I would asume that -

a) it is a copywrited logo and in order to use it on a 3rd party site (such as this technically is) you would need express permission probably from the chief exec or someone up there somewhere.

b) the fact that there is the council logo plus various other ones for different organisations to the casual observer would imply that these organisations have given their permission and back the site and its content and it is this misinterpretation that they are trying to avoid.

Although the links are very usefull personally I would stay about from using official logos for organisations unless you receive permission I have recently been designing a website for a local organisation and it has been something of a pest making sure that i have checked with all the parties involved to ensure that I have permission to use their names affiliated details and logos.

If you take this from the councils point of view, their logo is being used on a website that has on a number of occasions slagged off staffing and various departments, this could be seen as the Council tacitly agreeing with these views. Afterall they have been posted on a forum that appears to the casual observer to be supported by the Council.

These are just my thoughts on the matter feel free to rant away about freedom of speech and the pettiness of the situation however I personally understand where this letter is coming from and the situation that the use of these logos could create.
_________________
The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind,

Resident · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:56 pm Post subject:

norma · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 54 Location: Mitchell Crescent

Hi folks,
Resident, I understand why you feel you must remove the logo and save the hassle and for that reason I am in full agreement with you doing so. However, I agree with you when you say that the council, and its logo, belongs to the people of Moray. Masingo, I understand your concerns re copyright but this was a link to what is a public website! I access the Moray Council site fairly often and I have their link on my desktop. Am I in breach of copyright because of this? I don't think anyone in this day and age expects that the use of a logo on a forum implies agreement with the views expressed on that forum! For a start, most forums have widely differing views expressed so nobody COULD agree with everything that was said! And what irritated me most was the heavy tone of the letter with the immediate threat to take legal action. If Moray Council doesn't want to be criticised they shouldn't act in this way! A simple request to remove the logo with an explanation as to why would have been sufficient!!
All the best
Norma

PolarBear268 · Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 11

I guess it would be "legal" if you changed the design a little, and altered the text to read "The Muppet Council" thumbleft

paul · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Elgin / France

Hey Resident,

Thanks very much for the link to Soul Fibre, it is much appreciated. I've only had time to have a little browse around so far, but it is great to see the beginnings of a serious discussion forum for Elgin - well done, it isn't an easy thing to get going.

Like you, I'm a little perplexed at John Ferguson's formal cease and desist letter, regardless of the merits of his complaint. As "Community Planning and Development Manager" I wonder what good he thinks a formal letter like that would do for community development. Far better I would have thought to congratulate you on your efforts so far and to offer whatever assistance he can in the name of promoting local democracy. Ach. Whatever. Sometimes I think it is a lost cause!

I'd be tempted to reply asking if they object to the link to the M.C. and the Community Planning Partnership and if not suggesting a few other images which might be more appropriate than their respective logos...

Thanks again for the link,
Paul.

Resident · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:58 pm Post subject:

Hi paul,
Cheers for your thoughts, and thank you very much for registering on the forum it's always good to see another new member!!!!! And no problem for the link if you want any other links added and can provide express written permission just give me a shout Rolling Eyes

All the best, Barry Thumb