[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Apr 18 2005, 11:24 PM\'][quote name=\'Fedya\' date=\'Apr 18 2005, 07:49 PM\']I can understand that press releases might be copyrighted material and that the mods don't want to take the risk of running afoul of copyright laws, but I was always under the impression that the point of a press release was to get it reprinted in as many different fora as possible.
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While, yes, it's generally accepted that a press release can be quoted from with impunity, I would imagine if that started, then there will be all kinds of confusion from, shall we say, the less clueful among us who cannot discern the differences between quoting from a press release and quoting from a copyrighted article. It's easier from a management standpoint to make the entirely reasonable request to provide links instead across the board.
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The rule was in place before I became a moderator, so I'll let Matt and/or Chris C. speak to why exactly it was instituted initially -- but at least from my standpoint, yes, it's easier to have that rule in place across the board. Bandwidth is the other reason.
A link is generally the best way to go about posting such things; we also allow a very brief excerpt or a summary, either with the link or (if the article is from, say, a paid-subscription-only site) in lieu of a link. Citations are always required; obviously if you provide a link, we'll know the source, but in any event it should be clear where the story originated. (Hint: the
Bowling Buddy Gazette is not a reputable source. ;-)
