h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was wondering what your policy in regards to the use of h2g2 pictures on other websites is. lord Wolfden has used the wolf picture (B558584) on an msn group he created ( http://groups.msn.com/Wolfden2 ) and I don't believe he even asked permission first. Maybe I'm over-reacting, I just wanted to know.

This isn't a concrete answer but:

Have had a look on the picture pages and nowhere does it say that the pictures can't be used elsewhere, so if this researcher has broken the rules it may be that he didn't realise.

I doubt this has helped you a great deal but hoopefully it has!

Traveller in Time on top
"I have no idea where, but I am sure it says somewhere it is not allowed.

Only the artists are allowed to use their pictures elsewhere on the WEB. Just as with your entries, you are the only one who can publish an entry written and researched by you. "

I had a niggling feeling that would be the case I must admit.

I'm certain that the smileys are protected under copyright so I 'm certain that any other art work would be as well.The PTB frown very heavily over this sort of thing.

Le sigh, that name again? I wish I was surprised but I'm not.

Traveller in Time patiently repeating again
"< A754490 > 'h2jargon'
'The PTB == 'The Powers That Be'

"

*hic*

Oh Dear!

>>>
3. You may not copy, reproduce, republish, download, post, broadcast, transmit, make available to the public, or otherwise use bbc.co.uk content in any way except for your own personal, non-commercial use. You also agree not to adapt, alter or create a derivative work from any bbc.co.uk content except for your own personal, non-commercial use. Any other use of bbc.co.uk content requires the prior written permission of the BBC.
<<<

http://www.bbc.co.uk/terms/

I believe that the community artists work is treated the same way that a non edited guide entry is.

The BBC have a non-exclusive right to use the work how they wish.

But the author/artist of the original work must also give permission for it to be used offsite.

With Edited Guide entries then technically the Sub-editor must also give their permission for the entry to be used offsite (as well as the BBC and the author) as they have been part of the process which created the final article.

Certainly no h2g2 graphic can be used without the artists permission and probably the BBCs too. This has been asked before in the past and granted in some circumstances.

Although I suspect that this didn't just come to someones attention, but is part of a bigger picture re the researcher in question and some others.

However the upshot is that it is still correct to report it.

The BBC generally takes the view that if someone borrows a picture from the Beeb site for their own personal use (as the terms above state), and it's not bringing the BBC into disrepute then they don't consider it worth spending licence-fee payers money to take legal action. A lot of h2g2 Researchers use pictures from this site on their personal pages, don't let the fact of who the Researcher is in this particular case start a witch hunt about it.

Ahem, it's gone now. He removed it when I quietly explained the situation.

Thank you Gnomon


lil xx

Often the 'quiet word' is the best way.

Although as Mina and I both said - there is probably more to this than meets the eye.

Perhaps next time someone will put personal issues aside and ask someone like an official h2g2 <./>volunteer</.> to have a quiet and friendly word.

Thanks Gnomon - I should have done that myself - but to be quite honest I envisioned myself getting mixed up an a vendetta, which I could do without.

Although I think it is worth mentioning that although you may not visibly see the Italics around much, they are very much aware of what goes on - and do indeed have 'all seeing eyes'.

Just out of interest, will 'quiet words' be had with the many other Researchers who use h2g2 art on their personal websites? Or is this one a special case?

Lord Wolfden is one of my friends, so I wouldn't want him to fall foul of any rules. I don't know of any others, but if another of my friends is illegally using h2g2 pictures, I will certainly talk to them.

It's not illegal though. It's allowed in the terms, as quoted above - for personal use.

Trasveller in Time politics, rules and regulations
"Publishing it on the internet is 'personal use' ? "

I don't think publishing it on a website could be considered personal use. If I took all the entries in h2g2 and published them on my own personal website, I'm sure that would be a copyright infringement. Publishing a single picture shouldn't be any different.

I have to disagree - every single image, yes, but the odd one or two to add to a page is accepted - they know it happens with Dr Who fans, and the Beeb aren't fussed.

I'd consider personal use to be ok on a website. If that website was then saying, hey, take this image for your own site *that's* not personal.

The world of the interweb, have to embrace it.