[Peter.D.Evans]

In an ideal world, I'd love it for us all to be able to scan and reproduce any number of images from any book or website without fear of any comeback. I myself have a large library and could spend all my spare time just posting away to my hearts content. However, when I launched the first incarnation of the web-based LEMB, I decided that there should be a strict set rules, most especially with regards the reproduction of images from books. I appreciate that we are blessed with a growing membership from nearly every corner of the globe and that in one form or another, we all have our views on what is and what isn't copyright. All I ask that every member puts these thoughts and ideas to one side and respectfully sticks to the rules as set out above. If we can, then not only do we keep authors, publishers (and their lawyers) happy, we also encourage those out there producing some of the fine books and magazines which grace our library shelves to continue their hard work. As a published co-author myself, I can tell you that there is nothing worse that seeing years of hard work scanned and posted without any care for the author. We all know there are forums and website that allow all manner of attachments to be posted, but I'd like the LEMB to be seen (and hopefully remain to be seen) as a source of good quality discussion, debate and where necessary, resources and information without the need for senseless irresponsible copying of images...

So as to allow the reproduction of images and text within this board from other sources, I would ask that you please stick to these rules.

1 - If you wish to include an image(s) from another on-line resource, try and seek the owners, poster or webmasters permission to reproduce it on the LEMB. However, if the website does not allow their images to be posted elsewhere (or you are unsure of their policy) please just post the URL link in the post message box so that it includes only an URL link to the original image rather than a direct hotlink. Hotlinking of images so that they are visible on the LEMB are not allowed under any circumstances. If there is no restriction by the original site or you have obtained permission from the owner, poster or webmaster, copy the picture on to your own website/server or upload it using the LEMB image upload facility but please give proper accreditation to the original owner, website and include a link/URL to the website in your post message box. Please see points 4 & 5 below for details on what size any images uploaded must meet.

2 - If the image is taken from a book or magazine, images should not be scanned and reproduced unless permission has been granted by the author, publisher or image owner. If the book or magazine is out of print or difficult to obtain, and full credit is included in the post message box, then the image can be posted. If you are not sure, then please PM one of the moderating team and they will be happy to provide guidance

3 - If the image comes from your own collection, please credit it in your post. I would also recommend that you add copyright text or watermark your image(s) so that they are not copied and posted elsewhere.

These next two points are very important.

4 - Please can you ensure that any images uploaded to the LEMB web space are no wider than 800 pixels. This 800 pixel wide rule supersedes the "Max. single upload size: 2MB" line which is seen when uploading images. We reserve the right to resize any images posted that are larger than this. Please remember that oversized images take up more space than a carefully resized example. As with any image either uploaded or linked, full credit for the image must appear in the post.

5 - Adding an image without a source or a line of text to say that you either:

a - downloaded the image from a website but cannot remember where...
b - downloaded the image from a website that no longer exists...
c - I scanned the image from a scrapbook and can't remember from where it was taken...
d - I found the image elsewhere on the LEMB but haven't bothered to add a source...
e - I found the image on my HD but cannot remember the source...

...none of these are good enough. If you cannot give full credit for the source of any images you wish to post (as set out above) then PLEASE DO NOT POST THE IMAGE! - its that simple! There is nothing stopping members sharing uncredited images via email. The only uncredited images that are allowed, but at the administrators and moderators discretion, are former eBay auction images. Please note that if the winner of an image posted here makes contact with any member of the moderation team and wishes them to be removed, then we will be happy to do so.

6 - If you are using a 3rd party image host (Flikr, Photobucket etc) or your own webspace to host your image, there is no restriction on the size of an image linked away from the LEMB. However, the URL redirect is all that can appear in the post and the image must not be hot-linked to appear within the LEMB thread. Members linking images via plain URL's from 3rd party hosting sites should try and add a source, but it is not imperative that they do.

7 - The reproduction of electronic copies of books, or links to file sharing websites/message forums offering these services are not allowed. This includes published books/articles shared via Rapidshare, Megaupload or any other third party hosting solutions. If in doubt, please do not post any links. Any posts with links to the sharing of electronic/scans of books will be deleted without question.

8 - As the reproduction of images from published sources may infringe the copyright rules of the book/magazine in question, if you are in any doubt whatsoever please do not post the image and just make mention in the post message box of either:

# the book title, author, ISBN and publisher
# the magazine name, date & issue number, author and publisher

9 - A direct link must be provided in the post message box to any eBay auctions if any image/images from the auction are uploaded or posted on the LEMB. If the auction has expired and the link no longer works, please ensure that you add a line of text along the lines of Source: Expired eBay auction, link no longer works. If you are selling images or win an auction and the images are reproduced anywhere on the LEMB and you wish them removed, drop me a PM and I'll be happy to remove them.

10 - If you plan to scan and post images from a book that is new or recently published, please can you refrain from doing so. Please allow 24 months before posting any images from new publications. If the book or magazine is hard to find or out of print, please use your common sense and limit the number of photos you scan. Most publishers will allow an odd photo to be reproduced, but mass scanning and posting will invariably mean I get an email or PM asking me why I allow this to happen. You'd be surprised how many publishers/authors/photo owners are members here, so please just be sensible people. If in doubt... PLEASE DON'T POST!!!

All 10 of these points are here to ensure that the LEMB goes a long way to trying to keep within international law. Please note that if any member, after being warned by any member of the moderation team, infringes any one of these rules MORE THAN THREE TIMES, they will be suspended from using the LEMB. Can I again remind you all that when you join the LEMB and by ticking the last box during your membership application which says:

"I have read, understood and agree to these rules and conditions"

You have therefore agreed to abide by all the LEMB rules. One of the most important LEMB rules relates to the posting of images from published sources. Repeat offenders will have their posts deleted and will be banned. You have been warned!

The LEMB moderation team and I have full rein to delete/edit any messages not following these guidelines, or messages that they consider infringe on the copyright of the rightful holder. Believe me, it's nothing personal! We just want to try and keep within the copyright laws. The Luftwaffe Experten Message Board (LEMB) cannot be held responsible for what is posted herein. If a copyright holder or webmaster wishes to have items removed in accordance with his copyright, please PM me directly and the content will be removed ASAP.

Any questions regarding this charter should be PM'ed to me too here... and thanks for your co-operation in this matter... :)

[Peter.D.Evans]

If you are in any doubt whatsoever about the source of an image hosted outside of the LEMB, please do not upload it here. If it is hosted outside of the LEMB, just provide a plain URL link to the image. This is especially important for images hosted by Footnote.com, The Google/Life Photo Archive and Bundesarchiv Picture Database (via wikimedia too). There is no need to copy and upload the image here when a plain URL link to the original is all that is needed.

If you have any problems with the URL and wish to make is easier/short or more manageable, then cut and paste it and use the TinyURL service here...

Any questions, please do not hesitate to drop me a PM and ask... I don't bite :unsure:

[Peter.D.Evans]

Can I remind members that hotlinking images or uploading images to the LEMB webspace & posting images from external websites is not allowed. This is especially the case for the following websites:

http://asisbiz.com
http://reibert.info
http://battlegroundrelics.com
http://waralbum.ru

These appear to include many published images without any author permissions or book credit. If you want to provide link to any images hosted on these websites, a plain URL link will suffice...

If you have any doubts about posting an image - please don't upload it to the LEMB webspace or provide a hotlink to the image. Any questions, please drop any one of the moderators a PM and we'll be happy to reinforce your understanding of these simple rules...