Is there ever a situation where it is NOT okay to post a freebie link? Generally it seems to be fine to post such links (and I'm very grateful to the Cutie members who do so!). However, I get the impression that there might be exceptions to that. Would someone please clarify? Thank you.
223I'm so glad that you asked that question! I hope I can explain it properly. We remove all links to web-sites that have do not abide by copyright. We will send a private message via the Inbox to the person posting so that they will know the reason that their thread was removed. There are some sites who in their Terms and Conditions state that it is forbidden to post links to their free designs. Mostly these are the ones who send out emails with the direct link to those who have registered on their site. There are some, who have contacted us directly requesting that freebie links not be given out to their site with explicit directions on what can/ can not be given. These emails almost without question state not to give links to the freebies. It is not O.K. to post a freebie link to your own personal web site unless you have been given permission by this site owner. She is quite generous with those who are long time members and contributors to her site, as she is the one paying for the band width from her revenue. We will delete any mention of a personal website immediately from someone who is using this site for their own personal gain and using Miss Veronika's money, members, and generous nature for their own profit. (It's really called stealing in some circles.)
I do believe that the terms do encompass the rules on links, and you are quite correct in your posting the section which concerns that matter.
It's pretty clear that: "You agree, through your use of this forum, that you will not post any material which is....' 'or otherwise in violation of any International or United States Federal law" would include copyright material.
I'm not sure what of yours was deleted? I can't address that since I'm without information on it, but I'll be so happy to try if you can re-create it mostly in it's entirety. "It's too bad other people in this community were so threatened by my question that they had to delete it in the other thread." Other people would be one of us moderators, or Miss Veronika, the site owner. We are the only people able to delete. Rarely ever is something deleted without a private message being sent with an explanation by a moderator. The only instance I can recall is after someone has been told 3 or more times, then it is simply deleted without further repeating the same thing. You know how that is if you have children. LOL
I hope I have answered to your satisfaction and understanding.
Since this is such a good question, I'd like to ask you a favor. Would you edit your original question and add tags? It would be great if we could link back to this question when someone else comes along with the same concern. Just add: copyright and Links and whatever else you can think of. Thanks!
6 comments
by nutshell
06 Jul 2016
Fortunately, I wrote the now-deleted post in a separate app then copy/pasted it. I didn't think I still had it, but I do... Here it is...
I'm confused. The last forum post I saw from dollar1digitizing was about a free design that they had posted. Obviously it's fine to post links to free designs because the forum has an entire category dedicated such links. What I don't understand why d1d's link was taken down. I read the Terms and Conditions, and the only thing I can figure is that d1d's post was considered "advertising."
Please clarify -- are freebie links to unaffiliated sites fine, but freebie links to sites that you own or are somehow affiliated with are not?
Note that I have no affiliation with d1d, I don't know who they are, and I am not excusing any "spamming" they did. What I do feel is that the rules are not as clear as they could be.
by nutshell
06 Jul 2016
Thank you for the detailed explanation.
I added tags.
I did not receive a PM about my deleted comment.
by nutshell
06 Jul 2016
The excerpt below addresses links and copyright. The gist is that posting a link is not a violation of copyright (unless it's a very specific type of link). This means the T&C text about copyright does not apply to posting links.
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Fortunately, courts generally agree that linking to another website does not infringe the copyrights of that site, nor does it give rise to a likelihood of confusion necessary for a federal trademark infringement claim.
http://www.dmlp.org/legal-guide/l...
by nutshell
06 Jul 2016
I am fine with the rules about links. I am not looking for a loophole or trying to get around them. I am simply pointing out that (a) the rules are not stated anywhere and (b) telling people to read the T&C is unhelpful because very little of it applies to posting freebie links.
by nutshell
06 Jul 2016
Thank you again, jrob. :-) If I sound terse it's just because it's late and I'm tired. I do appreciate your answer.
by spendlove
06 Jul 2016
Please remember that the rules are not all to do with this site. There are quite a few sites which do not permit links to be added here. That is in their T&C.
The T&C here say no advertising - that is what dollar1digitising is trying to do.
Many sites post illegal designs, so any links from here imply complicity. Quite obviously this is a threat to the site owner.
The moderators have the responsibility of keeping the site safe for the owner and for the users. It can be a thankless task.
Why not join in the other aspects of the forum and show us some of your projects? That is what most of us come here for!
158714Reading Terms and Conditions when having signed up on this site will clear up some. They are also accessible on the bottom of every page
Some of the reasons are:
Links to websites that do not abide by copyright
Direct links to Freebies (by passing home page)
Owners of sites using Freebies as advertising. Exeptions are the ones having permission by the owner to do so.
Some website owners do not want their site mentioned.
6 comments
by nutshell
05 Jul 2016
Thank you for providing some reasons. That is exactly what I'm looking for.
Yes, I have read the terms and conditions. I said that in the comment in the other thread that you replied to. I also said it in the comment that was deleted in the other thread.
Below is the section of the T&C that seems to be relevant to the "rules" about freebie links.
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You agree, through your use of this forum, that you will not post any material which is false, defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, adult material, or otherwise in violation of any International or United States Federal law. You also agree not to post any copyrighted material unless you own the copyright or you have written consent from the owner of the copyrighted material. Spam, flooding, advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, and solicitations are also forbidden on this forum.
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There is nothing in that paragraph about links to websites that do not abide by copyright, direct links to freebies, or owners of sites using freebies as advertising. There is nothing in the paragraph that would logically lead me to conclude that such rules exist.
Am I protesting these rules? NO. I am pointing out that these rules are NOT "clear" and can NOT be learned by reading the T&C. That's why I asked the question I asked. It's too bad other people in this community were so threatened by my question that they had to delete it in the other thread.
Crafter2243, I sincerely appreciate your answer above. Thank you for your help.
by rescuer
05 Jul 2016
If you re-read the section you posted, you will see that it does in fact include links words concerning copyright issues and the reason they are banned. Some of the other rules can be found at the other websites where a freebie might be found.
Also, please note that some posts are removed if they are contentious.
by nutshell
06 Jul 2016
The text refers to copyrighted MATERIAL (my emphasis). Not links. No one here who posts links to sites with freebies owns the copyright to those sites. Possibly every Cutie who posts links has written to every owner of every site and gotten written permission to post a link here, but I really doubt it.
I was not contentious.
by nutshell
06 Jul 2016
@rescuer - See above for the comment that deleted. Do you consider it contentious?
by rescuer
06 Jul 2016
"...or otherwise in violation of any International or United States Federal law."
This site requires all posts to comply with laws -- including copyright laws. That means no posts to websites that violate those laws. Also, this site is much like a home. It belongs to someone and she gets to make the rules here. As moderators, we enforce them and do our best to make sure the forum is peaceful.
I read you feel entitled to a PM if your comment or post is removed. We do that as a way to help Cuties learn about the rules. We are not required or even asked to do that.
I did not mean to imply you were trying to be contentious, only listing another reason a post could be removed. I am sorry you misunderstood.
It seems I am not the best moderator to help you understand, so I will leave it to the others to help you.
by nutshell
edited 06 Jul 2016
I do not feel "entitled" to a PM. I was replying to what jrob said about PMs.
I find it odd that you said "some posts are removed if they are contentious" when you didn't consider it relevant to why my post was deleted. Perhaps it would be better to put a list of possible reasons for why comments are deleted into a separate thread?
I never said I was opposed to this site's rules. I just asked what they were.
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