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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:
LadyMuck · 28/01/2009 22:29

MN does. You will have consented when you registered.

Original poster
Wotzy · 28/01/2009 22:31

the disclaimer reads
"you are consenting to the publication of your contribution on Mumsnet and to linked Mumsnet sites"

nothing about book publication.

OP posts:
LadyMuck · 28/01/2009 22:37

Oh, good point. When they did the first lot of books I thought that they posted something so that everyone had to opt in or out. I assumed that they had updated the registrtation process after that. I'll leave it to MNHQ to find the small print!

Original poster
Wotzy · 28/01/2009 22:37

Are you sure LM, I have just rejoined and didn't see a consent or click an agree box, or read anything about my contributions.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wotzy · 28/01/2009 22:38

x post, sorry.

OP posts:
FAQtothefuture · 28/01/2009 22:39

on the "topic list" page

"Please note that Mumsnet has copyright in all submissions to the chat board, and reserves the right to edit and re-publish these in print form."

Original poster
Wotzy · 28/01/2009 22:44

Thanks FAQ. It is very small and not where I would have looked for it at all.

So not part of the joining up process. And they have a right to edit them too.

Umm...

OP posts:
LadyMuck · 28/01/2009 22:44

And here is the copyright page. Though odd that it isn't more upfront in the whole posting process.

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:
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:
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

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

LadyMuck · 28/01/2009 22:57

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

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 23:05

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

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:
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.

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

LadyMuck · 28/01/2009 23:09

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

KerryMumbles · 28/01/2009 23:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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.

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 23:17

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.

LeninGrad · 28/01/2009 23:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyMuck · 28/01/2009 23:22

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