instructed to break copyright law
instructed to break copyright law
(OP)
I have been instructed to send a copy of an industry standard to a vendor. The problem is that there is an obvious statement on the document that it is protected by international copyright law and is not to be distributed, copied, etc.
I really don't want to do this and I have been dragging my feet to avoid it but this will eventually come to an impasse. I am sure if I don't do as I am told there will be some upset folks further up on the food chain. I don't think this would pose a major legal problem but it obviously breaks copyright law(s) so I really don't want to do this.
If anyone has successfully avoided this without endangering or losing their job I would appreciate any advise.
I really don't want to do this and I have been dragging my feet to avoid it but this will eventually come to an impasse. I am sure if I don't do as I am told there will be some upset folks further up on the food chain. I don't think this would pose a major legal problem but it obviously breaks copyright law(s) so I really don't want to do this.
If anyone has successfully avoided this without endangering or losing their job I would appreciate any advise.





RE: instructed to break copyright law
IMO, the cost of buying a copy of an industry standard is a pittance compared to the costs that would be incurred should the prohibited copying become a legal issue, however unlikely that may be. I'd compare this with illegal copies of software. A company where I used to work got mixed up in a BSA audit and spent thousands of dollars in legal fees.
I'd present these arguments along with any others that you come up with. Unfortunately it often takes an economic argument to get management's attention.
RE: instructed to break copyright law
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
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RE: instructed to break copyright law
Once you have it documented just say "Hell NO". If you have trouble on the horizon, don't wait for it. If you get fired and have the above documentation you have recours.
They hung a lot of people at Nuremberg that were just "following orders".
Another option if you don't want to say "Hell No" and have a company credit card, or can requisition things is just to buy a copy. You can arrange most standards to be downloaded.
RE: instructed to break copyright law
It cost us a little money and I think we had to certify that no other unauthorized copies of any code materials existed.
Our IT dept also got us in trouble with unauthorized copies of software. I liked their explanation, everybody does it we just got caught.
RE: instructed to break copyright law
If questioned, you can simply reply: "You told me to send them the standard. It was copyrighted. Since I was sure that you didn't want to violate the copyright, I sent the original."
RE: instructed to break copyright law
RE: instructed to break copyright law
That was brilliantly obvious. A star for you.
I would take it one step further, since you may need the original, or you may have notes in your copy, I would order a new copy and have it delivered to the vendor.
"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?" Oddball, "Kelly's Heros" 1970
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RE: instructed to break copyright law
I'd try and get a new copy for the vendor as others said. If you need some king of approval to spend the money get the person who told you to send it to sign the approval.
When they ask why do you want to spend this money you can explain the copy right issue.
Another option if it's an ASME spec, send a link to the specific page on the ASME website where they can get a copy.
You need to be more careful suggesting they go to a third party though.
At the end of the day you probably will end up needing to broach the copyright issue with the person that told you to send it. The important thing is handling this well.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: instructed to break copyright law
What kind of QA/QC allows buying from unqualified vendors?
Lacking an industry standard seems evidence enough that they're lacking production compliance records to that standard. Do a survy/audit.
RE: instructed to break copyright law
And there are TONS of "standards," many of the duplicative, yet not obviously different enough to demand their own publication number. DO-160 is a good example of where someone created a whole new "standard," yet massive sections are duplicates of military standards. So, you might have a MIL-STD-461 qualified design and still have to buy DO-160, only to find that you're buying duplicate information.
TTFN
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RE: instructed to break copyright law
It is a no-win situation. Drawings reference a standard for conformance and testing of the material. The specification is clear enough that anyone should be able to get the standard. Vendors quoted the part and the pricing looked good. Now that we have chosen a vendor based on quotation, they want us to supply them with the standard.
The standard is readily available and is not expensive. I told the purchasing department they could buy a copy and give it to their vendor but this didn't sit well with the folks up the food chain. They don't want to spend the $$, they just want me to shut up and send a copy of the standard.
I could send the original but I must admit that this would be a quick way to be shown the door.
I think that it has become somewhat common in industry to break these copyright laws so it isn't seen as a problem. My only hope is that the vendor takes the hint and purchases a copy of the standard. Who knows what will happen...
RE: instructed to break copyright law
TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: instructed to break copyright law
TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: instructed to break copyright law
Somewhat weasily but, could you lend the spec to purchasing to deal with the problem?
It's passing the buch which I'm generally against but you do seem to in a no win sit.
Are you job hunting yet?
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: instructed to break copyright law
How the supplier was able to quote something that refered a standard that they didn't have a copy? How do they know that they are not binding themselves in a loose money contract?
It makes me wonder the ability of the supplier to comply with your requirements down the road.
RE: instructed to break copyright law
I don't know how expensive it is, some standards are thousands of dollars, some are a couple hundred... If you can afford it, problem solved..
Based on the behavior you describe, you should also start wondering if this is an organization you really want to work for.
"Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?" Oddball, "Kelly's Heros" 1970
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of the Eng-Tips Forums.
RE: instructed to break copyright law
"Hey, the standard is copyrighted. It's illegal to make a copy to give to a vendor, and I won't do it."
By the way, did your company actually obtain the copy you have legally?
RE: instructed to break copyright law
I think the difference is that as an engineer you understand that original ideas born of long years of higher education and superior intellect are a valuable commodity. Let's face it, it's a virtual cosmic certainty that no one in purchasing is ever going to have an original idea worth stealing so they can't relate to this issue AT ALL!
RE: instructed to break copyright law
RE: instructed to break copyright law
RE: instructed to break copyright law