Missing Threads?

Have you clicked on "recent posts" to see what is there?

The "nüvi 1300 Formatted" thread included a couple of your posts, and I removed it a little while ago based on concerns over copyright.

It's hard to know for sure what the user's true motivations were in asking for the files. But in any case, we need to be careful that people don't come to think of POI Factory as a place like The Pirate Bay, where copyright and other intellectual property rights are disregarded.

None of your posts from yesterday were affected.

Also, regarding posts from yesterday, keep in mind that the thread will show today's date if there have been other responses since yesterday.

Jonathan (aka JM)

Job JM. Keep up the good work. You have an Atta Boy from me.

Jonathan
Thanks for clarifying, I thought I lost a few more marbles. My apologies, I never gave the copyright rules any thought, since it was for missing keyboard & text files and not map files I saw no harm.
The last thing I want to do to tarnish the forums reputation.
I'll know better next time.

+1

I too struggled some with this one.

I really like the friendliness and helpfulness we have around here, and I think the original poster was probably just looking for a quick way to get his nuvi back in working order.

But his request for files was making some members of our community uncomfortable, and in the end I decided it was really up to Garmin and best not to encourage similar requests by leaving it posted.

And I agree with the OP; I think Garmin really should put Text/Language files and Keyboard files in downloads/updates like it does with many of their other files.

Jonathan

I believe this decision is too restrictive despite being legally correct. Your call of course, but I will now be forced to limit my posts to the minimum necessary to maintain my posting privileges on this site.

TL;DR: No point in posting if we can't help people.

I too feel helping others is very important to the success of the forum. However, I can also see Jonathans point regarding the legality of it regarding copyright laws.

Please reconsider your feelings about limiting your posts, I saw many times you've offered some excellent suggestions in rectifying an issue and it would be a shame to lose your knowledge.

Muell9k>>since it was for missing keyboard & text files and not map files I saw no harm

Strephon>>this decision is too restrictive despite being legally correct

Come on guys. You don't have to be a lawyer to realize that ALL of Garmin's files are copyrighted ... it doesn't matter if you are talking about a keyboard file, a text file or a map file.

Not long ago we here at POI Factory got Garmin's written ok to post a link to the larger JVC file ... that, to me, is the right way to go about sharing things.

Don't know much about running a website ... but I know this ... the webmaster is ultimately responsible for the content and legality of his/her website. For example, the recent arrest of the webmaster of Megaupload.

I'm here to trade tips and collect POI files ... not start sending copyrighted material across international borders.

There are enough shady websites on the internet. Lets keep this place the helpful group of GPS users it's always been.

I also hope you will reconsider limiting your posts. I have found them to be very thoughtful and very helpful.

Consider JM's situation a bit more in depth. I think that you would want, as JM does, that this site live up not only to the letter of the law but also to the spirit of the law. As you stated, what was happening was not legally correct.

While this may not be the instant case, I have worried that people have acquired a device improperly and are trying to tug on our heartstrings by claiming that they accidentally "formatted" their unit. For the life of me, I can not understand how one would do that. When they say they mistakenly deleted some files, I am more understanding but even then, I wonder.

Most of these types of pleas come from people who have been members for less than 24 hours.

Consider: there are many ways we can "help" people other than furnishing files that are surely under copyright.

Please reconsider.

Gentlemen, I fully understand where JM is coming from on this topic and anyone assuming I don't see or otherwise understand the legal ramifications isn't really reading what I have to say. What they are reading is anyone's guess. However, this new restriction is a step too far because now it assumes that everyone who posts asking for files of any kind is automatically guilty.

I have a problem with that mindset.

But JM's mindset is correct.

We, as a community, should never provide anyone with copyrighted intellectual property that belongs to someone else.

A person requesting "Garmin files" such as that should be directed to Garmin Customer Support. Garmin can then determine the "legitimacy" or "motive" should they so desire.

said Mama.

We have to come under authority to who was placed over this forum; Even though some might not agree with every decision, we are a better people when we obey the set authority;

While I agree in principle with your decision JM, it does bring up the ugly specter of having all of the corporate-culled POI's as well.

They are free for personal use, but when applied, and used, on a business site such as this, does that not infringe on the copyrights of the owners, and violate their terms of use?

This may open a can of worms insofar as 'Fair Use' is concerned in my opinion.

Regards

A "well said" from me too.

I never considered this site as a business site. I consider it for entertainment and safety.

I never considered this site as a business site. I consider it for entertainment and safety.

It seems to me that all of our "points of interest" are in the public domain. I can find POI locations on the internet both through mapping sites like Google and through the corporate sites which gladly provide "store locations".

What am I overlooking in my thinking?

After I posted above and went to another thread I saw this request from metricman

I think this illustrates my point in the previous post.

You've lost me. What?

Is OK David just go have another beer and it will all make sense to you, you only been in the family for 9 weeks and it will take time to understand this bunch, we are very much opinionated and sometime we can't let sleeping dogs lie.

On this one I agree with JM and with jgermann too.

I understand opinionated and verbal, I'm the same way. I understand and agree with JM, but I just don't understand how jgermanns point is illustrated in the example.

Edit: Ah. Got it now. Got lost in the 'quotes'.

I contacted Tilted Kilt regarding some of their locations awhile back, they had an error on their website. I mentioned that I was uploading the POI on this site, and they said it wasn't an issue at all.

Metricman's request was for help in determining how many ATM sites there really were in Miami International Airport (MIA). He had conflicting data from two sources. The BofA site - which he was accessing - said one thing; the MIA site - which he was accessing - said another.

Metricman was asking for assistance from someone who had recently been - or might soon go - through MIA.

All this was information in the public domain and was being accessed by the maintainer (metricman). Not surprisingly, multiple sources lead to data posted at different times. The fact that data is in the public domain does not make it accurate.

My point in response to a post by juggernaut was that information freely offered in the public domain without any mention of being copyrighted material should be able to be freely used by the compiler of that information - even to the extent of being sold. The value would come from the effort of compilation - not from any intrinsic value of the individual points of interest.

A good analogy would be guidebooks sold at bookstores.

Yeah, OK, got it. I got lost in the quotes and the similarities between your screen name and juggernault.

I'll try to pay better attention in the future (or else have more beer).