Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Our comments, in MN books, who owns our collective wisdom?

258 replies

Wotzy · 28/01/2009 22:28

Who owns our comments?

We can request them to be removed from this forum, but not in print. In posting we give consent for them to be on MN on the web, but does that extend to publication in a book.

I am not looking for a fight, it is a serious question, who owns the copyright to our words, if they are in publication? Was there consent to have our collective words printed in a book?

OP posts:
Original poster
Wotzy · 29/01/2009 09:43

I agree LG about subscription sites. Yes very dodgy, more burden than anything. Sign up sites which deduct a monthly sub usually from a credit card and then automatically runs and takes an amount each month and ties you into a online contract which requires a few months notification to end etc. Like gyms! Bloody things.

Will MN publish the word game? I think I may just take part in that.

Of course I can see that getting permission would not be possible after joining, which is why I think it should be clearer prior to joining.

OP posts:
BitOfFun · 29/01/2009 09:42

It seems like an over-reaction to me (but I don't say anything anyone would pay me to repeat, I suppose!)- what we post is in the public domain anyway, and if MN can collate it into a book and keep this fabulous site going from its sales, then great! I have got a lot out of MN, and if a sentence or two from me gets in a book they derive income from, then I'd be quite happy with that.

LeninGrad · 29/01/2009 09:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Wotzy · 29/01/2009 09:17

MN goes offline tonight (Thursday 29 Jan) for some tech stuff. So I hope they have considered this. Hopefully more transparent for new members. But I am only guessing.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wotzy · 29/01/2009 08:58

Well I think it stinks that they are not upfront about it. Some of us do no know about previous books, new books, TV series. I would presume you'd have to accept to AGREE to their terms, by a check box to tick/untick and should be given the option and shown the copyright and agreement before you access the TALK page. The statement is on the talk page but it is VERY SMALL, so only there after you have joined.

I do not like any sites that have all the important things hidden away. I do feel it is hidden and is not upfront where it should be.

Why is this bothering me? We over the years I have read some very helpful professional advice on here (ie; teachers, health carers, vets, doctors, social services, lawyers, too many to mention) and they freely give their time and help assist other members, I think to turn that into profit is a slap in the face for some.

I know MN site is abut making money, but I thought they would make enough from the advertising on the site (all the mouldies and other stuff in the press only to highlight how popular it is and therefore highlight their product/site) and the books would be their own content not ours. Silly of me.

I slept on this and I'm still not comfortable with it.

So if there are other sites that do just this, please let me know as I will avoid them too.

OP posts:
LeninGrad · 28/01/2009 23:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

zazen · 28/01/2009 23:28

I'm getting the feeling that we are being milked also.

First there was the infestation of lazy journalists, trolling for their articles.

Then there was the disgusting elitism of the Mouldies.

Now we are being pumped for our pearls of wisdom without any compensation acknowledgment.

Time for a rethink MN. You are looking greedy and selfish.

KingCanuteIAm · 28/01/2009 23:28

To be clear, I am not threatening to flounce over it, I was just wondering what would happen about deleted posts!

LadyMuck · 28/01/2009 23:22

?? Some overreaction surely? This isn't a new position. Nor that uncommon on forums I thought.

LeninGrad · 28/01/2009 23:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BoffinMum · 28/01/2009 23:17

Have discussed this with DH (lawyer) and decided this stinks and I am not being involved with MN any more by giving professional services and IP for free. off MN. You've milked us dry and killed the goose that laid the fucking golden egg. We professionals are now off flouncing elsewhere.

KingCanuteIAm · 28/01/2009 23:13

So, if we post something here but later ask for it to be removed, can MN still publish it and would they be able to put your name to it or could they publish it but mark it as anon?

BoffinMum · 28/01/2009 23:10

Some of my stuff is already owned by me and my publisher anyway in IP terms, they can't just decide to acquire it legally for free, because it is already in the public domain anyway, and I am simply citing my own work. This is very legally dodgy indeed, and I am certainly up for a fight as well, if I see anything cited in their books I have written without the proper acknowledgements to me and the publisher.

KerryMumbles · 28/01/2009 23:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyMuck · 28/01/2009 23:09

Ooops - actaully it was Justine and Carrie wasn't it? Not Rachel. What did happen to Rachel?

LadyMuck · 28/01/2009 23:08

They did do a TV series a few years ago - "Mum's the word" I think it was. Justine and Rachel visited various glam North Londoners to solve their sleep/dummy/eating problems. Unfortunately I don't think that you can really convey the AIBU/Style/AN clubs that well on TV

BoffinMum · 28/01/2009 23:07

That is very sneaky of them. I am going to stop giving people educational advice now I know they are producing books on the back end of it. They can ruddy well pay my consultancy charges. I might deregister as well as I am not happy.

Original poster
Wotzy · 28/01/2009 23:05

LadyMuck it says they may do a TV series....

Ummm... can Emily Mortimer be me?

OP posts:
LadyMuck · 28/01/2009 23:05

I'm sure that Justine would be prepared to cut a deal with you .

Original poster
Wotzy · 28/01/2009 23:01

I feel used and dirty. So I can't take back ownership and write my biography? It's boring, I have shared some of it here, but by god it's a good read, I could have made a few quid.

OP posts:
LadyMuck · 28/01/2009 22:57

Judging from this thread the wording hasn't been updated for many years...

ramonaquimby · 28/01/2009 22:54

'you may not submit the same material to any other website or printed publication without our prior agreement'

how would this be policed?
and 2009?
ob have some lawyers sorting things out with upcoming book launch

ramonaquimby · 28/01/2009 22:53

'you may not submit the same material to any other website or printed publication without our prior agreement'

how would this be policed?
and 2009?
ob have some lawyers sorting things out with upcoming book launch

Original poster
Wotzy · 28/01/2009 22:49

I can see it now, the copyright is from the text link at the bottom

© 2009 mumsnet

Umm...

OP posts:
Original poster
Wotzy · 28/01/2009 22:47

they have some good legal jargon in the copyright page. How did you find that page?

By sending information to us you automatically guarantee that you are the owner of any copyright of the material.
Once you have submitted material such as a letter, birth story, experience etc. to Mumsnet either by way of the site, direct email, by post or fax, the material sent automatically becomes the copyright of Mumsnet Ltd. This means that ownership transfers from you to Mumsnet Ltd and you may not submit the same material to any other website or printed publication without our prior agreement.

OP posts: