Starting/writing a book, care guide, magazine, website, forum, group, newsletter, etc

[CavySpirit]

I do not allow anyone to use this forum to start any venture. With the best of intentions, people decide they want to start a book or care guide or many other variations. Of course, you are free to do so, but not by soliciting any members here. You may not post about it. You may not solicit for it. You may not advertise or promote it.

And just to be perfectly clear, NO ONE has permission to use the copyrighted materials, text, graphics or photos from anywhere on this website or forum. Just because you read it here, doesn't mean you can use it. You must obtain my express written permission to use any of my information.

Thank you.
Teresa

[FoolOnTheHill]

I understand why you don't want your images used but why not make a magazine or something? Wouldn't that help to spread our message?

[daftscotslass]

I think a problem is that a lot of people, while they have the absolute best of intentions, have no idea what they're taking on. Since many of the people who make such suggestions are very young, they will be relying on information from various sources (notably the internet) which may or may not be accurate. Potentially new owners could read the information and think it was correct.

Another problem is plagiarism. Relying on other sources rather than your own experience means that you need to refer your opinions to sources rather than copy out information verbatim. I had absolutely no concept of how to reference and not to plagiarise until I was 18. If this site were to endorse a particular publication and it was involved in a copyright issue then I'm sure it has the potential to open a can of worms that T doesn't need to have to deal with (and she HAS dealt with copyright issues before as I remember).

As I said, I'm sure the ideas are with the best of intentions but the best plan is to spread the word about this site and others like GL and hope that others get the gist of proper cavy care.

[CavySpirit]

Let me say something that makes my blood boil. First of all, *I* plan on writing my OWN book about cages and some related care items. I sure as heck don't need any newcomer stealing all the information that has cost me many hundreds of hours, and tens of thousands of dollars to compile for their cute little book, site, magazine whatever. Just because they think they can. Forget it. I'll have no part of it and WILL pursue any copyright violations with my attorney.

They think they can read all the great info here and go write a book about it. I find it HIGHLY insulting and will not tolerate it.

I will not allow anyone to promote anything for profit, unless it is through the guineapighome.com channel. I have around $150,000 of lifetime rescue and internet expenses I'd like to recover, as I now have no savings from giving until I bleed and I continue to do so.

So, no, you will never see it allowed here.

Half the people that want to 'spread the message' can't even spell properly. It is a HUGE responsibility to do it right. They copy and interpret facts, have virtually no first-hand knowledge of half of what they are talking about, etc. Sorry, no. I don't support it for a variety of reasons.

[Pepe~Le~Peew]

"Cavy Spirit" is right the whole point of this websight is to help create a better life for pigs and to educate people on weather they can or cant care for a GP. Some of the information here is wrong "forum posts" and if you put that junk in a book people will believe it and ultamitly kill there pigs unknowingly. "Good luck on your book, if you have a title post it so I can buy it when it comes out"

[MCR_Rox]

How much are we allowed to tell people about C&C cages?

[CavySpirit]

Originally Posted by landhermie

How much are we allowed to tell people about C&C cages?

What do you mean? Tell anyone. Profit by it? Use my site to pull members off of my site? That's where I have an issue. Does that not make sense? Use my copyrighted materials to create your own watered down version of my site? No.

[MCR_Rox]

That's not what I meant. I meant like maybe tell a little about them, explain why they are cheap, and link to here.

[pigsforlife]

That should be fine LH, because you are making people aware about C&C cages and then asking them to check out this site for more information.

An example of what wouldnt be fine would be if you told people about C&C cages, then told them to go and purchase your magazine/book and to check out your site for more information. You would be making a profit of Ts copyrighted material.

[CavySpirit]

Originally Posted by landhermie

That's not what I meant. I meant like maybe tell a little about them, explain why they are cheap, and link to here.

Yes, as PFL said, that's fine, as long as your statements are in your own words. People do it all over the place, which is great.

[VoodooJoint]

I would like to draw attention to this thread again and to point out one issue I have noticed.

The vast majority of people that seem to wish to start a webpage on care or write a book/magazine/article are "newbies" to guinea pigs. I see many many people that join this site that place links here or have homepages that lead to their webpage or forum about guinea pig care. Most of these people have barely had guinea pigs for a year yet give advice as if they are experts.

Most of the advice and care tips I see on their sites is wrong. Some is actually dangerous. They have no business advising others on how to care for an animal when they are inexperienced as well.

It's wonderful if you wish to start a webpage or blog to talk about how much you love your pets and to show them off. Put up loads of links to this website and others to help people learn about proper housing, care and medical treatment. Don't be so presumptuous to think that you are capable of directing people yourself. The wonderful thing about these established forums is that there are many experienced, knowledgeable people to counteract the poor advice that occasionally gets posted.

I have been involved in animal rescue and care for well over 20 years. I would not even contemplate writing a care book. Not because I'm not a good writer but because I do not believe I know enough to solely instruct others on how to do it. I would not be able to do it without "stealing" others' hard work and I will not take information from others, even if I put it into my own words, without their direct permission and instruction in the process.

[Alusdra]

Is there a timeline for the book? I would buy a copy or three in an instant. It would make an awesome Christmas present for my stubborn relatives who still think that rabbits should be with piggies otherwise both should be alone, among other nonsense, despite my sending them here to read and talking to them over and over about it. A physical book might be the thing, though! Especially if it had lots of cute pigtures. (To stealthily draw them in).

[CavySpirit]

No way by Christmas, but I wish! No exact timeline yet.

[Char-x]

I understand you don't want any of you're stuff copied, but I made a post asking people what they thought on a small paragraph I wrote in my owns words (nothing from this website or others) as I wanted to add it to my small piczo website, nothing big just one that says basic things about pigs and to stop any mis-conceptions people have about pigs. I don't know if you was hinting at me with the can't even spell remark because yes, I spelt boar wrong.My mistake. Just because I want to create a small basic website doesn't mean I'm trying to say I'm an expert. I've had Guinea Pigs for a total of five years, which isn't much compared to most and I also had a 2 year break so I certainly have alot to catch up on but surely it's okay to just ask if something I have written is okay for a basic website that will hopefully guide people in the right direction? I thought thats what this was all about? I was planning to link here, and to Guinea Lynx etc
I'm not trying to cause trouble I'm just wondering whats wrong if someone doesn't copy anything from here and simply just wants to make sure everything is correct before using it.

[CavySpirit]

Originally Posted by Char-x

I don't know if you was hinting at me with the can't even spell remark because yes, I spelt boar wrong.My mistake.

No, I wasn't referring to you specifically, it was general comment.

Originally Posted by Char-x

Just because I want to create a small basic website doesn't mean I'm trying to say I'm an expert.

YES, it DOES. If you want to put up care info, it does. As has been said many, many times before, if it's just about your pets, then fine. Adding links to this site and GL is fine. That is NOT the issue.

[Res Judicata]

Registering the copyright if you haven't will give you better protection against infringement, although its not required anymore, and the right to sue for statutory damages if someone decides to help themselves to your rightful property.

[wickedrodent]

Im a little bit late with this.. but.. I wrote a research paper for my class a few months ago on the proper care of guinea pigs. I did use some quotes from here as well as cavyspirit.com. Of course everything was fully credited with citations plus the works cited page.

The only person to see it was my professor. I hope that was alright!

[CavySpirit]

Yes, that was fine.

[Ally has U's]

As long as you have brilliant ideas and go through with them there will always be people trying to steal it for themselves. But you can always remember that you have that little thing called a copyright and that you can sue them if they do! But the fight for our things will always be a struggle! Has been since we were all children. Demand the respect you deserve!

[Char-x]

Can I just ask where the C&C cage idea originated from?