Re: permission to use TAG articles

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

Hi guys, I've been away on business the last two days, so just got around
to the e-mail this afternoon.

Well, I don't quite know what to say on this one, so I'll probably say too
much.

On the issue of reprint TAG articles on the web: I beleive Neil and I have
gone over the issue of reprinting TAG articles on the web a few years
back, and came to the conclusion that electronic redistribution is not the
same as the exchange program... when a society reprints a TAG article,
it's a one-time use for the club.  When someone reprints a TAG article on
their web site, it's there for all time, and for that matter, what's to
keep them from reprinting entire TAGs, then end-running any need to be a
member of the society at all.  Then there's also the problem of how do you
"exchange" a web site?  Send a copy of the site to the AGA?  What does it
mean?  Our conclusion was, link all you want to sample TAG articles on
*our* site, but don't copy anything.  And of course, they are always
welcome to contact the author individually, because they retain
ultimate control over their work.

On the "end run" issue: I have not heard one peep out of Robert since the
incident I mentioned here previously.  I can only guess he is taking my
last words to him ("this is just not the purpose of the Krib") to heart
and assembling his own version, without the nasty complicated parts.

Specific points:

> > >>articles aimed to the novice. I would be very interested in posting
> some
> > >>past TAG articles, in particlar the one on Open Aquariums by the
> Tropica
> > >>guy, (sorry I forget his name), and anything by Karen Randall. 
> I would
> > >>even be interested in Steve Pushaks article on Building a cheap
> > >>substrate, although I am planning a link to his site for the same
> > >>article. You would be joining company with Albert Thiel, Richard
> Sexton,
> > >>George Booth, (by link), Dave Huebert, Dan Quackenbush, a woman
> > >>professor on tissue culture, and many others! 

I went over to the site.  Intestingly, these are almost all items that are
available elsewhere as either links from, or directly on, the Krib.  The
rest all go to "not found" pages.  He has gone out of his way to retype
actual articles that originally appeared on the Krib, such as Dr. Dave's
intro to plants, and Richard Sexton's lighting treatise.  Dr. Dave's is of
particular interest because he originally wrote that one for the FAQ, and
I unfortunately rejected it as being too complex for beginners, and more
appropriate for the Krib... gosh, I hope he's not mad.

> > >>It is not up yet, but hopefully within a week. It is registered. As an
> > >>AGA member myself, I plan to have some space dedicated to AGA
> explaining
> > >>its purpose and mission.

This seems odd; we already do this on the AGA page.  Is this meant to be
"another" AGA page, one which is not under someone else's influence?

So, anything productive from this? Not really.  Is he proceeding to
further erode the already tenuous relationship he has with me (now in the
AGA web geek role, as well as with my Krib hat)? Yes, I think so.

   - Erik

-- 
Erik Olson
erik at thekrib dot com