URGENT: COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT!

URGENT: COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT!

by Mary Spa -
Number of replies: 3

Ok.... I couldn't find any contact info. I don't know where to go so I'm just going to put this here. If anyone can tell me how to contact someone, please tell me.

I was installing Moodle so that I can teach people how to run their own t-shirt shop or gift shop. I was uploading a profile pic and browsed, but then realized there was no Upload button. So I hit the ?

This is what it said on number 4:

Lastly, you can "steal" images from the web. http://images.google.com is a superb place to search for images. Once you find one, you can "right-click" on them with the mouse and choose "Save this image..." from the menu (different computers may vary slightly).

EXCUSE ME?!?! I am a graphic designer. This is a clear and blatant violation of copyright law.

I went to Google images and performed a narrow search that I knew should return one of my designs. Sure enough, in the 4th position on the 1st page was one of MY designs! No one has any permission whatsoever to use one of MY designs as a profile pic!

I did a search on Moodle. I found some very nice logo images. If you're saying that it's ok to "steal" other people's images, then I'm assuming that it's ok for anyone to "steal" yours as well.

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In reply to Mary Spa

Re: URGENT: COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT!

by Nicolas Connault -
Mary, this 4th point was removed in Moodle 1.9.

I agree that the wording is clumsy and suggests that it's OK to use these images. However, the quoted text doesn't constitute a violation of copyright law. It is the wrongful use of the images that violates copyright law.
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In reply to Nicolas Connault

Re: URGENT: COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT!

by Mauno Korpelainen -

Yes, http://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-11086

I wonder if this clumsy suggestion is still present in other translated language files than en_utf8:

/help/picture.html

Edit: I just checked a couple of languages and for example Swedish translation has a note "Du bör dock kontrollera att bilden verkligen är fri att använda. Normalt sett så är bilder upphovsrättsskyddade och då måste Du fråga den som äger rättigheterna om lov först." meaning that you must check that pictures are really free to use and normal practice is to ask permission from copyright holder... 

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In reply to Mauno Korpelainen

Re: URGENT: COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT!

by Mary Spa -

Thank you! Yes, that's exactly what I mean- using images in that manner would be a violation of copyright law.

As a member of a popular graphic design community, you wouldn't believe how many times we have to defend our copyright on images. People don't understand that they just can't right-click and take images off the web to use on their websites or whatever. And when a newbie sees a statement like that, it just reinforces the impression that it's ok. I've given permission to a few people who have politely asked and they've given me a link in return. But you have to ask the designer first... otherwise it really is stealing.

I wanted to use Moodle so badly, but that statement really floored me. I really didn't know what to think. I'm glad to see that the mistake was rectified.

I installed this version of Moodle from my hosting company last night. I'll check for updates immediately and notify them that they need to update their files.

Thank you again for recognizing that it was a problem and correcting it with the newer version.

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