Help! Unofficial Website Regs?

[ggranatstein]

Hello all,

I need your help.

I am a reserve officer at a Comms unit.

I've put up a clearly marked "unofficial website" for my unit. I tried to do it through the unit, but they didn't want to. Instead, I put it up myself and am paying for it out of my pocket. All the videos, pictures, etc, were taken with a civillian camera. It is a purely personal website.

The problem: "THEY" don't seem to like it. They've told me that I have to pull the unit crest as it is copyrighted and that some of the pictures and videos should be pulled.

This really upsets me - I'm not sure where my rights to freedom of expression end and my military obligations start. In no way would I put anything up that would make the forces look bad, but I'm getting a lot of pressure put on me.

I would appreciate your help. If you can, give me specific regs - especially concerning the copyright issue about the unit crest (which I have modified to make it look nicer).

Thanks a lot.

 

[George Wallace]

When it comes to Unit Web-sites you are going to always run into problems, unless you have gone to the Unit and asked permission to do so, or as in some cases, been told or asked by the Unit to do so.  DND hosts all OFFICIAL CF Websites and ensures that they meet Treasury Board specifications for design and format.  All Government of Canada Websites must be "Common" in format under TB rules.  Many Units have allowed their Regimental Associations to design their own Websites, which reside in the Public Domain and can be designed to the way they desire.  These websites are still official Regimental Association sites, but not accredited DND or Gov't of Canada sites. 

If you did not seek permission to use "Copyrighted" items from your Unit, they do have the option of taking legal action.  Remember that all CF items like Crests and Hat Badges are copyrighted.  All I can say, is that you should have bounced the ideas of this off of your superiors first.

 

[ggranatstein]

I did and had tacit approval.

However, this is not about that. The help I need is in knowing what my rights are. Where does my freedom and expression start and end?

If crests and cap badges are copyrighted, how come this site posts them as avatars?

 

[a_majoor]

1. Cap badges etc are copyright by the Crown. Usually there is no issue unless there is something objectional about the site, in which case the Crown can take action.

2. All information published on the web must be carefully screened, since anyone may read it. DAOD 1000-1 is the starting point for Internet publishing. Information which may compromise Canada, your Unit or people in your unit (i.e. name, address, place of work, phone numbers) should be avoided. PM me if you want more in depth information.

You said you put up the site "for your unit", which may be where the conflict lies. The CO speaks for the unit, and if you make an error, he will wear it (even though it is unofficial, it may not seem that way to a veiwer "out there"). Perhaps if you recast the site as a "hey, I am having a great time in the reserve" personal site, it might not generate the resistance you say you are getting.

 

[childs56]

go to "fivetribe.ca" and chat with the moderator their. He might be able to give you alittle insite as the runnig an unofficial unit website. His name is Myles. Good luck,  if the Unit crest is copy writed then as a taxpayer dont you own that copy write.(just joking) I think your unti is smoking crack, unless of course you have pics or vids of sesnstive material, which case then i can see their point. Go to the DND web site and check inot their web site polcicys and see where you stand. I really do not think that they can ban you from hosting your own site, as long as the info is not damaging to the CF or interests of Canada and not metion such things as ops and such. good luck let us know what happens

 

[Michael Dorosh]

I'm the "unofficial" webmaster of the Calgary Highlanders and have been lucky to have the support of the museum, the regimental association, and the CO from the start. 

Can we take a look at your site?  I am guessing you've put some things up that have offended the powers that be - if you indeed had tacit approval beforehand.  Maybe we can spot what it might be.

 

[ggranatstein]

http://www.712comms.net


I would appreciate your help! Trust me, there is nothing offensive...