NOTICE Avatars

[Jim Oaks]

NOTICE: I saw this post today and want to address it:

Thread 'Potential problem with avatars; URGENT, please review'

Today at 2:48 PM

The Bob Is the Oil Guy (BITOG) forum, which uses similar software to this forum, reports it is deleting members' avatars that are images, because of copyright threats from lawyers for two different parties. It seems that bots from a third party automatically searched the site looking for possible copyright and trademark "infringements" from avatars. Evidently that third party receives a commission from every "violation" found.

Members who used their own photo are exempt from the image deletion, but must vouch that they took the photo. Even AI images are suspect. BITOG admins are...

• ekrampitzjr

I'm not really sure what to think about it, but I did some quick searching and see that it's something that's being discussed around the net.

It looks like most of our members have a picture of their truck in their avatar, so I'm not sure if this affects us at all, but I'm going to make a forum rule that if you upload an avatar or link to a Gravatar it has to be from a photo you took or image you created. You cannot use movie, TV, or other media clips that might be copyrighted, which of course means you can't use any labels or manufacturers logos as well.

I'm going to ask that the forum moderators keep an eye open for any avatars that might be protected or copyrighted so nobody is infringing on anyone's copyrights. If any of you see an avatar that you feel might fall into this category let me or a moderator know.

As far as making the forum private, I'm not a fan of that idea. I like the forum being open for anyone to read that might be looking for help. To me, closing the forum so that only members could see it would be like coming across someone stuck or broke down on a trail, and telling them they have to join our club before we'll help them. We're just not that kind of community.

 

[Brain75]

Guess I'll be the first to change mine, thanks for the heads up.

 

[Curious Hound]

Message received and understood.

It's ridiculous, how our society has become so litigious, plus people just out looking to make a slimy dollar off someone else's harmless fun.

 

[Brain75]

Pinky and the Brain (Amblin entertainment, Steven Spielberg productions) isn't exactly Disney level with the hair trigger law suits, but what is the real problem is "troll lawyers" lawyers who threaten to sue, file paperwork and convince people to settle quick and make it go away. They aren't representing anyone except themselves. They are using the prestige of being a lawyer to intimidate (extort) money from people who like you said were harmless. I wasn't using the picture of The Brain to sell T-shirts or make stickers or anything for profit, but it is my avatar in a LOT of places. Now I put all of those places in jeopardy just by existing, which isn't exactly fair to the site owners.

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

@Jim Oaks
Thanks for the heads up.
Since I'm using a picture of my truck I don't honestly know if it will be a problem or not.
I will leave it up to you. If you would like me to change it, I will willingly change it for you.

I'm sure I'm like most everyone else on here, I Love My Truck, and that's why I use it as my Avatar.

I also feel I should say this as well.
In the time I've been on and a family member of TheRangerStation, I love my family here as well.
And therefore I don't want to do anything that would or will hurt anyone else here.

 

[sgtsandman]

Next thing you know, they will be going after any post with anything other than original picture...

 

[pjtoledo]

brings back fond memories of the good 'ol days when big manufacturers were going around suing vendors that used their names/trademarks in marketing.
at least that was the actual manufacturer, not some creep hell bent on making money.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Ah beans… I rather liked this one…

Let me find something else…

 

[RobbieD]

WTF?

. . . and you youngsters laugh because all of us old farts lament that the world has gone to hell in a handbasket.

Well; it simply has.


Shakespeare had it right: "the first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers".*


Bummer. I'm going to miss seeing Toonces as my avatar.

Sad; but I do understand, Jim.


Children, take heed:
Greed is the root of all evil.


* from the play Henry VI, Part 2 (1591). Legal notice: Willie told me that I was free to use it anytime that I wanted to, one night while we were out bar hopping. He was too blasted to sign anything, but I have witnesses.

 

[JohnnyO]

It looks like most of our members have a picture of their truck in their avatar, so I'm not sure if this affects us at all, but I'm going to make a forum rule that if you upload an avatar or link to a Gravatar it has to be from a photo you took or image you created. You cannot use movie, TV, or other media clips that might be copyrighted, which of course means you can't use any labels or manufacturers logos as well.

I belong to BITOG and found the original post.
Their issue is with avatar pics that you DID NOT take yourself. Their position is that if you did not take the pic then it belongs to someone else and you must provide proof that you are allowed to use it (this is the position they've been forced into).
In my case, I use the same av there that I do here, a pic of MY truck in front of MY house, so it's not an issue.
On the other hand, at SteelerNation.com my s/n is Ron Burgundy and my av is pic of....wait for it....Ron Burgundy....so I will keep an eye on it and see if they say anything about it.

And lawyers wonder why people hate them.

 

[Curious Hound]

Their position is that if you did not take the pic then it belongs to someone else and you must provide proof that you are allowed to use it

Yet, our legal sysyem is supposed to be based on "innicent until proven guilty". The burden of proof should be on the accuser.

 

[Brain75]

One of my favorite junkyards met that fate. They called themselves 'Denver Ford Parts' and they only carried... Fords. Well after the modern age when Ford started hiring more lawyers than car designers they sued, the place changed their phone book listing and painted aff-able on their sign so in big black letters it red 'Denver Ford Parts' but in tiny red letters it red Denver afFORDable Parts' guess the hate from Ford was still bad, sometime around covid they closed their doors entirely and now it is gone, nobody in their place. Slated to become low income housing. They never presented themselves as selling new or genuine or factory parts, they fully claimed to be a junkyard and sold only parts that came off of and meant for Ford models.

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

That sucks @Brain75 .