I received this in my email today:
Hi Bob,
I am contacting you regarding your Gather Points. Recently, we made some changes to how we allocate Points for Gather members. One of these changes is a new focus on rewarding only those members who create their own content (rather than copying and pasting from another source). Much of the content you have shared on Gather appears to be republished content, rather than your own original content. Please correct me if I'm mistaken.
Now, it is not always against the rules to copy and paste something into a post that you didn't write yourself. For example, if you copy something that is not protected by a copyright, or if you have permission from the copyright holder, then you should feel free to publish it. We won't restrict copied content that meets those standards. However, even if you copy someone else's words within these guidelines, we still only want to reward members who publish work that is largely their own.
Bob, you are a valuable member to us, and that's why we wanted to clarify these things before taking any action. We're not sure if the articles you've been republishing are published with or without permission. But regardless, please remove unoriginal content published over the past month and make sure that most of your contributions going forward are your original works if you wish to still be eligible to receive Gather Points.
Additionally, if your copied articles are posted without permission of the copyright owners, you are putting yourself at risk for legal action from them. Please take this into consideration as well.
As a reference, you may want to refer to several recent posts which address republished content and point earnings:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977724410 and
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977713599
If you have any questions please feel free to write back.
Best regards,
MaryAnne Flynn
Director of Member Support
maryanne.gather.com
My Amber Alerts, product recalls, flu updates, freebies and tax tips are sometimes copy and pasted. I do rewrite many of them. I have permission to post tax tips and recalls. All freebies on this site are copy and pasted.
I will no longer post Amber Alerts, freebies product recalls, tax tips or flu updates.
My apologies to Gather for supposedly breaking their terms of service. My apologies to the flag holes I offended, And, my sincerest apologies to the children whom have been, and will be abducted. I'm soryy I let you children down.
Bob
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Comments: 126
oh bob
you gave such a useful service
i am sooooo sorry to see this
wow bob, i am so sorry this happen, i am shocked and don't know what to say
I am so sorry Bob.
{{{{Bob}}}}
Did you email MaryAnne? Also, you can rewrite everything and note on your articles that everything is rewritten.
I am with Kathryn here.
Still do your articles with commentary by you and maybe a link to the original like the Amber Alerts.
The issue is copy and paste versus original content.
Copy paste is a violation of copyright laws, but copyright laws allow for use of copyrighted content that includes original commentary.
And a link to the original. Explain this to MaryAnne.
I'm with Kathryn too.
So you did you email MaryAnne back?
OH MY!!!
I am so sorry Bob. The reason they put Amber Alerts out is they need to get the word out. You were doing a service to the children who have gone missing.
I agree, Denise.
He can still post the amber alerts so the children are not let down, he just won't get points for it.
I am sorry to ~hear~ this Bob. I found a lot of useful and helpful information in your posts.
My thoughts too..
what a shame, this just isn't right
It is not you who has let the children down Bob but Gather for preventing the news of it going forth on this site.
I am sorry you feel the need to leave us but I do understand and respect where you stand on the issue. Please stay in touch.
You are correct it is gather letting the children down. That is really sad.
This is so sad. I can't believe Gather will not let Bob post about the Amber Alerts. The Amber Alert is all about getting the information out there quickly. I'm sure they would have no problem with what you are doing Bob. How sad!!!
The children don't have to be let down and Gather will allow him to post the amber alerts. He just has to add some original content or else he won't be awarded points for it. If Bob doesn't want to do that and is only concerned about getting the word out about these kids, than the points shouldn't be an issue and he can post away.
I too am sorry to hear this Bob. I hope you can find a way to still do what you do without getting in trouble with Team Gather. I would sure miss you, if you left.
This isn't right... I found helpful info in your posts
Wow! Makes me wonder if they even bothered to check your stuff out. Amber alerts are very important. On a postive note at least they did notify you. If I recall correctly they had said they would stop the points earning but would not necessarily contact the offender.
I am shocked!
oh bob i hope you do find a way to do what you do with all of your alerts please keep in touch with all of us
Bob, I am so sorry. I hate to see you leave.
I am sorry too Bob, I always find your posts informative.
Unbelievable!
That is just plain ridiculous! Those Amber Alerts are meant to be passed along. You will definitely be missed if you leave!
That's what I thought. If maybe the majority of the work is Amber alerts, I think it's a valubable service to all. This is because a few creeps have taken advantage, even the good suffer. I'm sad.
I'm sorry, Bob. Surely there must be a way for you to continue to alert us about these important things?....I hope something can be worked out.
((Bob)) what a shame. I dont see what possible harm could come from posting Amber Alerts ! You could save a childs life for goodness sakes!!!
I like being updated from Bob ...Bob I really believe to that the more people we add as friends we some times run into the wrong ones here on gather. The brown nosers as I call emm ..Believe me one night I made a huge long post about these people!!after I got flagged as spam. I am really surprised I didnt just say (f )it and post it and leave right then and there ..But instead I deleted the person who I know flagged me and this has happened not once but 2 different people on here. I know if they read what i write now they are only going to say something like well what he post is against TOS. or some crap. I dont know but I enjoyed reading the updates even if they were copy and past and the funny thing about it is I dont like to read alot of post alot of writing but I enjoyed yours. :) I dont know if i am making sense but I know how you are feeling and im sorry. hugs
also the adding friends thing comes from me doing a contest here on gather and i added this one person who then flagged me as spam and wrote about it in a comment right after . Geesh nice new gather friend..hahah needless to say I deleted her as fast as I added her. and its funny cause she had been a memeber of gather for a long time more then 3 or 4 yrs and only left 200 comments.. so she was one to just view and never leave a comment , you know alot of them do that view as much as they can as fast as they can well that dont work anymore...hahahah
Unbelieveable. I'm wondering if they even looked. I'm sorry this happened to you but most of all I'm sorry if just one child could of been saved by your posts....and now they won't. :(
i am just sitting stunned after reading this. bob you have helped to get the word out about these kids. you have given me so many freebies. things i would have not had the money to get. no money coming in means not a lot to pay with. the recalls... oh mu gosh! so many times i was able to let my family know about these . how many lives you may haver saved. as far as gather, this is ludacrise . how dare they. i am spitting nails over this. first they send me an email about a staker on here who is my old lanlord . they tell me he did nothing wrong. well i had to get a restraining order against him. so tell me now that he did nothing wrong. bob i am so sorry they sent you this. you are my hero, my friend!
BOB - your amber alerts are such a valuable service - can't you write an intro to them and cite the source you got them from to meet the terms better yet still be able to post them and get them out there???
great idea:)that what i meant in my last post
I hope that you dont leave and maybe can find a way to post them still... its really sad to see everyone upset and leaving
Ditto, What Charity said above.
I agree with Charity here, Bob. Can there be a way to still do them?
So sorry to hear of this. I agree with those above who suggested rewriting or simply adding a line or two of your own commentary, though.
Awwww, how mean. Of your own free will and original idea you published public service alerts and information to help and assist others. I think your material needs to be reevaluated.
Please Bob reconsider leaving. I know it must have hurt to have received this but gather as everything in life ichanges and MAry anne even said to you that you are a valued member
"Bob, you are a valuable member to us, and that's why we wanted to clarify"
All that is necessary is to still publish those amber alerts with your own commentary which could be as simple as "Gather members have you seen this Please please take notice this childs life depends on it!" and you can use your sentence on every amvber alert you post and you would be in compliance with the new gather.
You can also add commentary to the product recalls say something like Hey Folks if you see this do not use it as it was recalled.
Same thing with the flu updates and freebies just add a little commentary and there will be no problem.
ANd anything that you have permission to repost just state that on the bottom of the article and you still will receive points for this type of content.
RE: "Gather members have you seen this Please please take notice this childs life depends on it!"
Great idea April. Indeed, just a short introduction from you (even one that you use over and over again with the same types of posts) seems like it would suffice. Most of the items I've seen you publish are indeed open for republication (such as press releases on FTC actions or Amber Alerts). So there's no violation there.
Either way, you could keep publishing your posts as they are and the only thing you'd lose out on are the points. It's your call Bob. Hope to still see you around.
I'm stunned too as I thought this had all been cleared and you had the ok to go ahead with your posts......
I suppose I should check my business email in case I've gotten anything from gather, since I can't get it across for those things to come to my gmail.
You're not leaving are you BOB??????????????????????That will make me sad and ANGRY!! Please let me know where/how to find you if that is your intention...Ever thought of starting a blog for the alerts? Heck, you can use mine and I will make you and author there to do it....Let me know! We can have a recall and an Amber Alert category...just for you to publish...a FREEBIE one too.....What do you say?
Please Bob reconsider leaving. I know it must have hurt to have received this but gather as everything in life ichanges and MAry anne even said to you that you are a valued member
"Bob, you are a valuable member to us, and that's why we wanted to clarify"
All that is necessary is to still publish those amber alerts with your own commentary which could be as simple as "Gather members have you seen this Please please take notice this childs life depends on it!" and you can use your sentence on every amvber alert you post and you would be in compliance with the new gather.
You can also add commentary to the product recalls say something like Hey Folks if you see this do not use it as it was recalled.
Same thing with the flu updates and freebies just add a little commentary and there will be no problem.
ANd anything that you have permission to repost just state that on the bottom of the article and you still will receive points for this type of content.
hmmmmmmmmmm
Bob,
As I mentioned to you earlier, I was going to (attempt to) obtain clarification from Gather on several aspects of the new policy. However, time was not on my side today.
Specifically I was concerned about your content, or the publishing habits of other members that do not violate copyright/fair use rules, but do share a significant amount of content that is not wholly created by them.
In this situation, you are NOT violating copyright or fair use for the majority of your content (if not all of it), therefore, you are not violating the Terms of Service. Consequently you should NOT be asked to remove it. Instead, Gather should deduct any points accrued for this content, and potentially shut off your points until such time as you begin to share more original content.
I'll read through the letter again, and post additional thoughts/suggestions.
Hang in there!!
Keep us informed, Bob. When I first saw this, I thought it was another,
"I'm going to leave, wah, poor me post." But this is genuine saddness, and I'd grieve for the loss of so valuable a member.
Hoping you'll stay on Gather. Sorry this has happened. I thought the Amber Alerts you posted were important information to get out to folks.
Sorry this happened Bob...I hope you are staying.
Wow, sorry this has happened to you. I am wondering who will be next in this regard.
I don't see anything wrong with posting Amber Alerts, Product Recalls, Freebies or the other content you have posted. Personally, I enjoyed reading your posts. For those of us that don't watch a lot of TV, you kept us informed of things we should be aware of(Amber Alerts and Product Recalls). I truly hope that you don't leave. You'd be missed... a lot I might add.
Although I didn't comment you content much, I always read it... every single post when I wasn't on a sick day. I really hope that you find a reason to stay, or that Gather will help you find a common ground to stay.
Hugs Bob!
You should stay on Gather! I am actually very shocked by this! Stay please!
Oh Bob, this is horrible, you were doing a good thing by posting what you did. Please reconsider leaving gather.
Don't go. This is not just about you -- gather REALLY needs to understand the difference between taking someone else's creative work (not good or right), and passing along information that the originator MEANT for others to pass around (very good, and just what the content's creator wanted!).
From www.usdoj.com which issues amber alerts: Information generated by the Department of Justice is in the public domain and may be reproduced, published or otherwise used without the Department’s permission. Citation to the Department of Justice as the source of the information is appreciated, as appropriate.
hmmm, wonder if Gather knows that. I couldn't imagine you needing to seek permission to post information about Amber Alerts. It's meant to get information out there as quickly as possible to save the life of a child(ren). And that's exactly what you were doing Bob. I'm still shocked.
Well, that just sucks.
I understand why Gather changed some of thier guidelines or rules...too many people just outright stealing, but when blanket changes are made, some are caught up in the spotlight when they shouldn't be.
:-(
Bob,
Obviously what you post is valuable to members (and to missing children). It also doesn't violate the Terms of Service, and is welcome to be published on Gather, per MaryAnne in the letter above: ...if you copy something that is not protected by a copyright, or if you have permission from the copyright holder, then you should feel free to publish it. We won't restrict copied content that meets those standards.
Thus, it is not the content itself that is the problem, but the quantity of this content you publish as a ratio to other content that is more 'original'. MaryAnne is likely asking you to remove content shared over the last month (even if it DOES NOT violate the TOS/Copyright law), so that you are not earning points on this content (assuming you do not want your points deactivated).
I can understand Gather asking you to modify your publishing going forward, but I believe that also asking you to remove your content published over the past month is needlessly harsh.
Thank you for your insight into this matter Kevin. I, and so many others, truly appreciate all you do for us. You put your time, and your heart into your posts. Your service is invaluable.
I also want to thank everyone for their kind and thoughtful comments. The majority of Gather members are wonderful people and it is an honor to know each and every one of you.
I will continue to comment on posts. There is an immense amount of heartfelt thought that goes into most posts. I will continue to look forward to reading and viewing all of your contributions..
I hope Kevin can find a common ground for you. So you can do your posting
Good Grief Gather! Sorry Bob.
You provide a great service, Bob. This makes me VERY angry...but don't leave, fight!
Bob, I think there is a confusion here on Gather's part between copyright infringement and "original content."
If Gather wants to adjust how they award points to emphasize "original content," that's their call.
I cannot imagine that reposting (even without any notes of your own) something like an Amber Alert which is a public service announcement, is a copyright violation. To the contrary, their objective is to get this information out to as many people as possible.
I think you should feel free to republish things like Amber Alerts and if you want points then post some content of your own or commentary on your other posts separately.
I enjoy having you around, my friend.
But don't amber alerts fall into public domain. Have you looked into the guidelines on the Web site of the NCMEC? I feel certain they grant permission to spread the information. And I know that you have rewritten the bigger part of your content. Please reconsider.
Amber Alerts are MEANT to be republished. Gather is Wrong.
I agree with thew Col. here the word needs to be out !
An Alert is AN ALERT.
Our town has an active automated ALERT service, direct from the PD for various ALERTS.
I got an automated alert on my phone about an Amber Alert in my town a year ago, plus Snow Emergencies, plus our town Fireworks.
In my car, when an AMBER ALERT is issued, it breaks into the NEWSCAST or SONG.
AN AMBER ALERT IS AN ALERT. A public service. I cannot believe how Gather is about this.
Bob please don't stop posting these. Contact them back this stuff is very important. It is advocates that helps the world so much. I know what it is like to be an advocate and many long hours. I asked about reposting this stuff specifically and they said as long as you write your own view in it, and post where you got it from. Amber alerts are meant to get out there. I am sure if anyone contacted them they would say please do repost.
What can I say that has not already been said? This is one instance in which I really feel that Gather has made a major faux pas. Amber Alerts and product recalls are PUBLIC service announcements and are meant to be PUBLICLY distributed.
I hope you stay as I feel that you have truly become a friend. I would miss you if you left.
Bob,I'm sorry they think your post are not important to us.The child we may find because of the post is very important to the parents.The recall info that may save a life is darn inportant also.Keep us posted as to what is going on.
Bob,
I always look to you for Tax advice. I have even emailed you for help. I read your recalls and amber alerts. I sure hope you will continue to post them. They are very important to the members of the Gather community. We all want to help with the amber alerts and save the children if we can.
Please reconsider leaving! Please!
Sorry, Bob. I guess this is a lesson to a lot of us.
10 4 u
I am sorry. please reconsider
Bob - If you leave, you will be missed by many here on Gather so I'm hoping you will stay. I'm sorry this has happened. Hope you'll decide to stay.
Gather has become a very unfriendly place anymore. There are those who will flag anything, 1 raters just out to be mean and Gather is restricting so much what is allowed.
Maybe many of us should connect on the new yahoo profile pages, what use to be yahoo 360. You can blog, share comments and be friendly with friends.
I'm so sad! But I can understand how you must feel.
Wow, I can't believe Gather. This really makes me angry at them. Why should we support this site, when they don't seem to care about a majority of their users?
I hope you stay, but I could certainly understand if you didn't.
Oh Good Lord Almighty..........this is just outrageous.....simply outrageous.....I guess it's NOT important to inform people of all the little kids who have been abducted, and many of them have been murdered...........I guess we're just supposed to let that ride....and not inform anybody........this is so frustrating.....no wonder there have been tons of people leaving Gather....permanently.
Hmmmmm, now I'm wondering when posting recipes will be totally "banned." Perhaps that will be the next to go.
This is downright ridiculous..........Bob, don't leave........please stay.....you have done so much good.
I agree with Sheryl totally, where she says that Gather has become a very unfriendly place anymore...AMEN to that........yep, the flaggers are out in full force....you'd better believe it! When recipes are even flagged, well that absolutely takes the cake. It's sad, really sad.
And then Gather management wonders why so many are leaving......DUH!!!!!
Bob, I don't want you to go anywhere. I've respected you, what you do and your opinions for a long time.
Bob,
As you know, because I've told you, it was always MY PLEASURE to feature those PSAs , and to do so until those children were located,
or
the Amber Alert was resolved somehow.
You were the first, Bob -- and as far as I know -- the only consistent reporter of these heinous activities. We relied and counted on YOU to keep us informed the Amber Alerts, as well as the "freebies", tax issues, and other issues of concern to us consumers. Here's what . . .
YOU NEVER LET US DOWN, BOB!
What's even more amazing is that you aren't being paid to do what you do. It is your expense of time, money, and effort, and still,
YOU HAVE NOT LET US DOWN, BOB!
Bob, if you wish to leave, I won't ask you to stay. Gather isn't paying you for the service you have provided on this site. Instead, you have been insulted, and by your reaction, I am feeling that you have also been offended. You deserve far better than that, Bob, and that is the reason I would not ask you to stay. Instead, I would wish you well, and wish you . . .be very confident that if you moved on, you would find a location more appreciative of your very selfless gestures, and perhaps (I would hope), even willing to compensate/express their appreciation in "some small way".
Bob, you do what you believe is best for YOU;
Bob, you do what if best for YOU.
Either way, I'm behind you. If you decide to leave, I only ask that you leave me with some way of staying in touch with you; people like you are not frequently encountered these days, and I would like to stay in touch.
My warmest regards, and respect,
Nee
I think Gather is trying to protect itself from any future lawsuits...
I dont know what would you rather see, a How many words can you make that have DUH in them or an amber alert? What are people thinking? Are there any copyrights on an amber alert? and shouldnt they be copied and transmitted Ver Batim as to not destroy the integrity of an amber alert?
I agree with Kevin, "I can understand Gather asking you to modify your publishing going forward, but I believe that also asking you to remove your content published over the past month is needlessly harsh."
Hope it's okay that I copied/pasted Kevin's comment.
Ok, this is just uncalled for. Clearly Gather is letting the flaggers decide who can post and who can't, instead of actually reading the articles you are putting up and seeing that you have permission to post them as they are. I have lost a lot of love for gather recently, since I came back from my 'break', and this is just pushing me over the edge. What the heck!?!?!? Bob, I am so sorry this is happening to you. It isn't right when GOOD people get hurt for doing GOOD things because flagholes have the illusion that they are gather police. I hope that you decided to stay, I really do. And yes, remember its not YOU who let those kids down Bob, its Gather for not seeing how important the postings are. That alone is sick. Really, really sick. I have a mind to write Mary anne and give her a talking to!
Unreal! I think Gather is way wrong here myself. I'm no lawyer but Amber alerts, safety recalls, etc. would seem to me to public service announcements or whatever "meant" to be spread and made available to us, the public as much as possible. Not violating any copyright crap... sheesh. This blows my mind!
I don't know about the points earning aspect of it all, and still don't quit get it, but I'm hoping you will stick around here. You are definitely an asset to those of us that know you, and that public awareness and our safety has been your concern here. I think Gather should reevaluate what it is asking you to do...
Man.... don't know what else to say but sorry this happened to you. Take care Bob.
I hope you get this resolved with Gather and change your mind about staying.
I'm so sorry to hear this, Bob. You have been providing a worthwhile service. You will be missed if you leave. The comments show that people who read your articles enjoy them and benefit from them.
The articles you publish are things that are meant to be shared. I don't remember you publishing copyright material. Even the freebies are meant to be shared.
I thought Gather wanted articles published which people would want to read. The comments show that your articles are appreciated by many and are what many people want to see. Now many people are disappointed and others might leave Gather.
I have not been on Gather much in a long time. I have what I think are some great photos I was planning to publish here. Also I wanted to get back on to renew old friendships. After seeing this I doubt I will be back.
I hate to see such good members as you leave. I have always liked and respected you for your work here. You publish articles which are beneficial to many. Gather is losing when they cause you and others like you to leave. I hope they reconsider. People such as you generate lots of comments which I thought was what Gather wanted.
Goodbye good friend. I wish you the best.
You don't have to let the children down if that is what you are posting the Amber Alerts for-- to get the word out and save them-- then continue to do it. Gather is just letting you know that you won't be awarded points for it, so continue helping the kids.
oh so sorry for this
oh my i don't think you should leave
i think this is stupid on gather part..it is made public the amber alerts and recalls
you know if it was one of their kids they be posting it....
so sorry plz dont leave
{{{ Hugs }}}
Wow... I'm shocked, Bob! Getting info out about child abductions and recalls is important! How else are people to know about them? And, it certainly doesn't violate any copyright laws! What is happening with Gather?!! I'm so sorry this has happened to you and truly hope you can work it out and stay, Bob. It's your decision, but we will ALL miss you very much if you go... (Here's hoping you will stay)
My sincere apologies for acting too hastily by sending this message to Bob.
Members can post Amber Alerts and Public Safety Announcements. This is valuable information that is meant to be mass communicated. Copying and pasting this content insures the message is being accurately communicated.
Separate from safety announcement posts please make sure the remainder of your content is largely original content.
Hi Bob-
I read your post and all of the comments, and it sounds to me like MaryAnne's concern is regarding the points you receive for those posts more than it is about the posts themselves. The first line of her note to you specifically says that she is contacting you about your Gather points.
I'm guessing they have no way to turn points off and on per post for any member, so you're either making points or you're not, and they don't want to continue to award points for unoriginal content, even if it does not violate copyright laws and regardless of its value to other members.
If your posts are not violating any copyright laws, you can keep doing what you're doing- you just won't earn any Gather points. If you want to receive points, you have to post a greater percentage of original posts.
I think MaryAnne was informing you what you need to do to keep your points from being turned off.
Does anyone else share my interpretation?
Yep!
Their goal with unoriginal content is content that is 'pirated.' That does not apply in public service announcements.
I do not see the new policy as applying to Bob at all.
I think it only applies to Bob as far as the points go.
Gather has stated that they are not going to continue to award points to any member who is not posting their own original content for the majority of their posts, whether it's legally copied or not. Amber Alerts, while certainly valuable, are not considered original content. They can be legally copied and posted on Gather, but they have to be offset by a greater percentage of original content if Bob (or any member who posts from elsewhere on the web) wants to continue to earn points. Otherwise, Gather will turn that member's points off.
It would be great if there was a way for Gather to turn points earnings off and on for each post, but I don't think they have that capability.
From the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, parent site of Amber Alerts: "The goal of an AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the entire community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of the child."
Here