Rules online

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

If it's a copy of Fed's football rules, then yes, it's legal.

You may think so, but I bet the Fed makes them take it down.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

You may think so, but I bet the Fed makes them take it down.

How, do they send their goons? Heck, I've got a PDF of it; anybody here want me to host it at my Web site? If they ask BestWeb to take it down, I'll show BestWeb a copy of NCAA's rules and let them laugh along with me at Fed's copyright claim.

[InsideTheStripe]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

How, do they send their goons? Heck, I've got a PDF of it; anybody here want me to host it at my Web site? If they ask BestWeb to take it down, I'll show BestWeb a copy of NCAA's rules and let them laugh along with me at Fed's copyright claim.

I'll bet you that BestWeb would pull the content faster than you can shake a stick. They are not going to risk their safe harbor under the DCMA based on your half baked legal theories.

[BktBallRef]

It has nothing to do with paying and joining the Fed. I am a member of the NFHS officials association. The Fed has decided not to make the PDF copies available to members of the officials association anymore as referenced in the error message listed below.

While it's great that you are apparently a paid member of a NFHS professional association or state association staff, not all of us are.

ITS, HLinNC and I joined the NFHS Officials Association and have access to the pdf files. I have them saved on my computer for football, basketball and baseball and includes, RB, CB, OM and HB. I have no idea why you don't.

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

How, do they send their goons? Heck, I've got a PDF of it; anybody here want me to host it at my Web site? If they ask BestWeb to take it down, I'll show BestWeb a copy of NCAA's rules and let them laugh along with me at Fed's copyright claim.

They will call the Nevada HS association and the state association will call the local association.

Originally Posted by InsideTheStripe

I'll bet you that BestWeb would pull the content faster than you can shake a stick. They are not going to risk their safe harbor under the DCMA based on your half baked legal theories.

LOL!

[jchamp]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

How, do they send their goons? Heck, I've got a PDF of it; anybody here want me to host it at my Web site? If they ask BestWeb to take it down, I'll show BestWeb a copy of NCAA's rules and let them laugh along with me at Fed's copyright claim.

DMCA take-down notice. Pretty effective since it establishes a penalty per unauthorized distribution (counted as each time a file is transmitted from the server) and allows a 6-figure penalty per violation. It was intended to stop Napster-style copyright violations, but like many things congress has attempted, did little to curb online copyright infringement and made many other unrelated activities criminal.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by jchamp

DMCA take-down notice. Pretty effective since it establishes a penalty per unauthorized distribution (counted as each time a file is transmitted from the server) and allows a 6-figure penalty per violation.

But pretty ineffective against material that's already in the public domain.

[jchamp]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

But pretty ineffective against material that's already in the public domain.

From page 1 of the *.pdf file in question:

© 2011, This rules book has been copyrighted by the National Federation of State High School Associations with the United States Copyright Office. No one may republish any material contained herein without the prior written consent of the NFHS.
Republication of all or any portion of this rules book on the Internet is expressly prohibited.

I think that's pretty clear. It's possible they got permission, and no one outside of that particular discussion would need to know.
Otherwise, it's still a copyrighted work. If the NFHS sends a DMCA takedown notice to the web-hosting company or ISP, and that company doesn't at least pass the word on, then there is serious litigation possibility at stake. At the end of the day, it's best to not screw with it unless you've got the documentation that proves you were given permission.
There is certainly a legitimate point that the rules may be public domain, but there's lots in there besides rules.

[Welpe]

Tony, I wonder if officials in NC have some sort of special access through your state.

[ump33]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Tony, I wonder if officials in NC have some sort of special access through your state.

If NC does, I wish someone would share with me ...

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Tony, I wonder if officials in NC have some sort of special access through your state.

No. I signed up via the NFHS website, paid my $35, and had access.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by jchamp

I think that's pretty clear. It's possible they got permission, and no one outside of that particular discussion would need to know.
Otherwise, it's still a copyrighted work. If the NFHS sends a DMCA takedown notice to the web-hosting company or ISP, and that company doesn't at least pass the word on, then there is serious litigation possibility at stake. At the end of the day, it's best to not screw with it unless you've got the documentation that proves you were given permission.
There is certainly a legitimate point that the rules may be public domain, but there's lots in there besides rules.

I've got a friend who's an intellectual property lawyer, plus another who's done some IP cases, and I'd love to make a case of it. If BestWeb's too chicken, I'd set up a server, but the bandwidth would be crazy low. Meanwhile if you want a copy of the PDF, I'll e-mail it.

I've got some other work on my site that should have priority, but gotta remember to put this in line for stuff to put up.

[jchamp]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

I've got a friend who's an intellectual property lawyer, plus another who's done some IP cases, and I'd love to make a case of it. If BestWeb's too chicken, I'd set up a server, but the bandwidth would be crazy low. Meanwhile if you want a copy of the PDF, I'll e-mail it.

I've got some other work on my site that should have priority, but gotta remember to put this in line for stuff to put up.

I spoke with one of my partners who is more senior in my association. Permission to post this pdf file was obtained from NFHS prior to it being posted.

So to answer the OP, they followed the rules and used the mechanisms available. Yes, what you see is permissible because that exception in the copyright notice about requiring permission to duplicate the file was followed. Your association may be able to do something similar.