melonfool wrote:I have removed discussion about moderation, which you are all aware is not to be done on threads. We have also removed quotes by the Independent - please read the rules, the updated rules (pinned in Biscuit Bar) make it clear that we will remove quotes where the organisation has said they do not allow it *regardless of the fair use rules*.
We are not going to list all those organisations, you can check for yourselves, but if you have not checked and we find that organisation does not allow quoting we will remove the post or the quote.
I would also add that the way to request that something does or does not happen with regard to moderation is to ask at the Biscuit Bar, or pm a moderator or admin. it is quite clearly NOT to just say "moderators stop doing that" as if we are doing it just to annoy you. I am moving house on Friday and exchanging contracts today so I can assure you categorically that I have better things to do than go around finding ways to annoy you.
I apologise for posting about this on one of the threads - I wasn't actually aware of the "Biscuit Bar" and thought it simplest to post about the issue on a thread where it had occurred. I asked politely whether you could stop removing such quotes as I had not seen the rule change. I'm sorry if that annoyed you.
The news stories that the independent publishes are published openly without the need to register or login and agree to any conditions. Hence the conditions you refer to above about an organisation not allowing quoting are an unenforceable contract term which undermines UK copyright law and in particular the concept of fair dealing exemptions to copyright such as that pertaining to reporting of current events
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/30
(2)Fair dealing with a work (other than a photograph) for the purpose of reporting current events does not infringe any copyright in the work provided that (subject to subsection (3)) it is accompanied by a sufficient acknowledgement.
(3)No acknowledgement is required in connection with the reporting of current events by means of a sound recording, film [F8 or broadcast where this would be impossible for reasons of practicality or otherwise].
Hence I find it reprehensible that a site such as this would collude in this undermining of UK copyright law and would hope that you might reconsider this rule change.