[Imc-uk-features] Fwd: [Imc-uk-contact] Republishing permissions

[andi]

hi all,

opendemocracy.org have written to the contact list, see below.

i'll edit 299906 as requested by opendemocracy.org - this was re-posted to imcuk
as simple cut'n'paste without working link to the original nor the original
site...

i will delete the second half and put in a link to the original at
http://www.opendemocracy.net/debates/article-6-91-2175.jsp instead.
will also put in a link to this mail to the features list as well so it'll be
clear why the article was edited.

cheers andi



----- Forwarded message from  <xxx at opendemocracy.net> -----
    Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2004 17:49:40 +0100
 
 Subject: [Imc-uk-contact] Republishing permissions
      To: imc-uk-contact at lists dot indymedia dot org



Dear volunteers of IMC-UK,

I was delighted to see that Indymedia has recently picked up and published an
article on the ESF by Paul Kingsnorth:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/10/299906.html.  It is great to see that it
has struck a chord with many, and stimulated an important debate about the
future of the movement.  I was surprised however that the article, that was
commissioned, paid for, and published by www.opendemocracy.net was: a)
republished in its entirety without letting us know, and b) presented without
even an active link to our site.

We are all big fans of Indymedia, and respect the importance of a free
publishing platform, especially one that is consistently incisive and thorough.
 despite this, it is important to us that we are consulted before our material
is used elsewhere.  As an organisation we rely on people visiting our site to
stay alive. Although everyone can view openDemocracy content for free we
vitally need the revenue from people paying for our archive of material if we
wish to continue to operate.  Republishing elsewhere in entirety and without
links undermines this and threatens our future.  

With this in mind I must ask you to alter your presentation of the article.  Our
policy is that other sites are free to use extracts of articles - even upto 50%
as long as they include a link to openDemocracy for the full article.  I hope
that this is all fine and can be dealt with promptly. I also hope that it won't
deter you from reading, using, and discussing openDemocracy material in future.
 

Thanks and best wishes,

[Name Removed]
External Communications Manager
www.opendemocracy.net