GEC Member Returns: rlaughton

Finally I found out what happened - so it is valuable to read the opening statements from the Administrator (here)!

I ended back up here today because I had a KMZ file from many years ago about a local homicide that had not been solved. As they are now doing a re-enactment of that case (May 2016) I was asked if I could make the link work again that was posted (here).

I also had a great number of detailed KMZ files in MILITARY and MILITARY MODERATED for the Nicholson maps that formed the basis of the Official Canadian History of the Canadian Army in the Great War (WWI 1914-1921). I have found a number of those in the Archives that are still on the site here, but I am not sure if they are all still here. The files were recreated on our CEFSG WIKI site (Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group: Nicholson Utility) but that is not as clear as they were when they were on the Google Earth Community. The GEC approach enabled us to teach others how to use the system.

There were also a number of KMZ files that were used in Research Papers related to the Great War (linked here).

Also I don't know if the Administrators/Moderators want us to put back archived or deleted topics if they are still being used by others? Perhaps I will soon find out that answer?

For now, I am going to reload the Venerus Files as they are currently needed.

Best Regards from Milton, Ontario Canada
Richard Laughton

Hi, Richard, and welcome back.  We all regret the passing of the old GEC and the ossification of the huge repository of knowledge and experience gained from millions of members from every corner of the globe, over a period of 10 years or so.  We give every encouragement to people to rejuvenate as many as possible of the great posts and .kmzs of the past.  If the said posts are your own work, then there is no problem at all.  

If the original posts belong to someone else, and you intend to copy-and-paste their work, then we come up against the question of intellectual property rights and you must seek their permission to do so - from common courtesy, leaving aside any legal aspects.  If you do manage to obtain such permission, then you should acknowledge their work, and place a link in your new post to the original GEC post.

If the original IDEA was someone else's, and you can't find the person to seek his/her blessing, then I would go ahead and make the post with two provisos:

1.  ALL of the work should be your own, including researching primary sources and nothing should be taken from the original post, other than the concept.

2.  You should again acknowledge the original idea, its originator and again provide a link to it.

Now, I'm not a copyright lawyer and the above statements are merely my own opinions.  However, I think that most reasonable people would be satisfied with the steps above, assuming that you are not intending to profit financially from their work - that would be a whole different ballgame!

What any poster MUST NOT do is to plagiarize someone else's work and present it as his/her own work - we would remove any such posts from the forums.

I look forward to seeing your work again.

Cheers,

Frank

Very succinctly and eloquently put, Frank. I hope you will repost it up where members, new and old, are seeking advice and direction.

Greetings, Richard, and it's nice to see you again!