Copyright of sumbitted items

[+Eclectic Penguin]

It came up in a converstation just now about the Creative Commons license used by Geograph.org.uk - what is the copyright situation of images and indeed text posted to Geocache log entries / cache pages?

 

I fully understand the statements in the T&C about infringing other people's intellectual property -i.e. posting someone else's material without permission - but what is the status of, say any pictures I post along with a cache entry that I took myself? Are these now free for anyone to re-use? Are we bound to a Groundspeak copyright? I can't seem to find a clear definition.

 

By default, any pictures I've posted in the past are, even if not stated, posted effectively under the Creative Commons LIcence - I don't mind anyone reusing any of my pictures as long as credit is given (though I waive the credit as effectively there's no way of stating this apart from in every picture's text entry).

 

Can anyone clarify?

[+Simply Paul]

A while ago Groundspeak approached me about using some of my gallery photos on other sites/publications, which suggests they accept I retain copyright. In theory, you hold copyright on everything and anything you produce; words, pictures, video, etc. unless you specifically sign your rights away, as with a model release, for example. YOYO, I think they call it: You Own Your Own... words, pictures, and so on.

[+Eclectic Penguin]

A while ago Groundspeak approached me about using some of my gallery photos on other sites/publications, which suggests they accept I retain copyright. In theory, you hold copyright on everything and anything you produce; words, pictures, video, etc. unless you specifically sign your rights away, as with a model release, for example. YOYO, I think they call it: You Own Your Own... words, pictures, and so on.

 

Thanks for the response - I realise now that probably should have posted this in another forum but this clarifies things. I did wonder about the images that are used in the headers - now I know that Groundspeak ask permission, which I think is good. I'd originally assumed that anything posted would be automatically theoretically up for re-use elsewhere on the site.

[+BlueDeuce]

http://www.geocaching.com/about/termsofuse.aspx

 

6.License to Use Submissions

 

All comments, articles, tutorials, screenshots, pictures, graphics, tools, downloads, and all other materials submitted to Groundspeak in connection with the Site or available through the Site (collectively, "Submissions") remain the property and copyright of the original author. If You submit Submissions to Groundspeak, You must adhere to any applicable submission guidelines that may be posted from time to time on the Site. By submitting any Submission to Groundspeak, You grant Groundspeak a worldwide, non-exclusive, transferable, perpetual, irrevocable, fully-paid royalty-free license and right to use, reproduce, distribute, import, broadcast, transmit, modify and create derivative works of, license, offer to sell, and sell, rent, lease or lend copies of, publicly display and publicly perform that Submission for any purpose and without restriction or obligation to You.

 

The foregoing license rights are intended to provide to Groundspeak all rights under existing and future laws, including without limitation all rights under copyright and any other rights personal to You to publish the Submission on the Site, use the Submission in publicity and promotional materials for the Site and to create new Sites or derivative works (including without limitation by combining the Submission with other content) for public display or performance via any and all media or technology now known or later developed. The foregoing rights may be licensed and sublicensed through unlimited tiers of third parties.

[+Haggis Hunter]

Just to clarify I have gave Groundspeak permission to use my pictures more than once. On each occasion I have had to fill out a form giving them permission to use my pictures. So the copyright still belongs to you.

[+Eclectic Penguin]

http://www.geocaching.com/about/termsofuse.aspx

 

6.License to Use Submissions

 

 

That clarifies things - and this was my original impresion. Although you've signed your rights to Groundspeak, from this I understand that you still have to ask permission of the original submitter if a third party wanted to use material found on the site.

 

Not sure how I missed that when I skipped through the T&C earlier on.

[+Renegade Knight]

...Can anyone clarify?

 

You own and retain the copyright on your own works submitted to this site. This site by it's terms of use obtains the royalty free right to use your works for it's own purposes. They need that right to publish a cache listing, or your log. They could if they so choose produce a book series about the best logs, or the best caches, or the best photo's. However since you retain your copyright you could of course do the same.

 

The third party issue is probably brought up in case you submit your buddies pictures. He has the copyright. You had his permission to submit the photo with a log. Now Groundspeak needs permission to do it's thing.

[+fat bloke]

Don't publish anthing on face book as there is a clause in the small print and you loose all even your own image

[Jeremy]

A while ago Groundspeak approached me about using some of my gallery photos on other sites/publications, which suggests they accept I retain copyright. In theory, you hold copyright on everything and anything you produce; words, pictures, video, etc. unless you specifically sign your rights away, as with a model release, for example. YOYO, I think they call it: You Own Your Own... words, pictures, and so on.

 

Thanks for the response - I realise now that probably should have posted this in another forum but this clarifies things. I did wonder about the images that are used in the headers - now I know that Groundspeak ask permission, which I think is good. I'd originally assumed that anything posted would be automatically theoretically up for re-use elsewhere on the site.

 

We ask permission as a courtesy for those who submit photos to our site, especially when we want to use them for things like brochures for geocaching, the GPS Adventures Maze, etc.