inhale...exhale...relax your shoulders...repeat as often as needed

Sunday, March 6, 2011

i need your help with this, please.

(edited post)
I had posted a photo here, 
of the ingredients needed for a recipe.
Via e-mail and here in the comments, 
I had a few requests for the recipe.
As you will see below, in the comments,
I referred people to the workshop creator,
Heather.
Overnight, I received an e-mail from another workshop
participant suggesting that posting a photo
of the ingredients is nearly the same as 
posting the recipe.
I have removed the photo.
This copyright stuff has fine lines,
and I want to be very careful to respect
other people's work.

Your thoughts?

all the fixin's for 
quinoa and black bean chili

cooking today...in preparation for a busy tomorrow.
30 day vegan workshop, here we come...
woo hoo!


12 comments:

  1. karen and batman...best wishes for your food adventure...look forward to getting some new recipes...tqoe

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  2. I jumped over there...looks like it will be a great experience....but I'm not ready yet

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  3. Hmmm...since the recipes are from a workshop put together by Heather, I'm not sure they are mine to share. Feel free to get in touch with Heather here....

    threadcityyoga@yahoo.com

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  4. That fine line is so frustrating in this time of instant-access informatio! I'm tempted to say "it would take a very motivated person and a really popular recipe to create any serious breach via photo." Also that "we're shifting from an information age to an age of connection, and the shift is difficult." You know, the "hoarding = fear; sharing = expansiveness and growth" way of thinking. At the same time, I want to honor the ability of creators to make a living from their work.

    I admire your integrity in bending over backwards to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, and hope you feel whole in your clean intent to inspire, educate, and nourish (!) your readers.

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  5. Legally, American copyright law only covers the text of recipe instructions not ingredients lists, much less photos. See http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl122.html

    But Stacy, above, has a point regarding honoring creators. It also sounds like the workshop leaders/participants seem protective/sensitive.

    Rather a tough way to start the month, I'd say.

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  6. karen, sorry if i put you on the spot; i'd have no problem accessing heather's site for recipes she'd be willing to share or even respect her reticence re same. tqoe,

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  7. My 2 cents: posting the ingredients is a far cry from posting the recipe. It's like posting a picture of all the fabrics and notions you plan to use in a quilt, without a picture of the finished project. There is a multitude of ways those things could be used together. On Top Chef they sometimes give all the contestants the same ingredients, and no two chefs ever make the exact same dish. Good luck with your vegan adventure. I may just have a cheeseburger in your honor. :)

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  8. JUST RECEIVED A LOVELY E-MAIL FROM HEATHER, SHE SAYS PHOTOS ARE FINE. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR ADDING YOUR THOUGHTS HERE. I SO APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT AND SUPPORT.

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  9. yes... please share photos and talk about ingredients and such. that is totally fine! not at all protective or sensitive. thanks karen. :)

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  10. Hi Karen, I'm participating in 30 day vegan as well. I'm slowly unfolding into it all - making it my own. I think that is what I like best about Heather's guidance. She is so gentle and supportive of each individual. I have quite a sweet tooth, and that is part of what I am working on understanding and shifting for a big part.

    Glad to hear the photo issue is resolved! My favorite line from the whole exchange is this: "hoarding=fear; sharing=expansiveness and growth." A lesson worth learning again and again and again.

    Take care, Maribeth

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  11. Another one of those copyright sticky wickets! Recipes are specifically excluded from copyright protection - that is the list of ingredients. The specific way they are put together or the description of the dish can be copyrighted. Copyright would never extend to a photo of ingredients, especially since more than one recipe could be made from any one pile of ingredients depending on so many variables - in what proportion they're used, how they're prepared, etc, etc, etc.

    I so appreciate your thoughtfulness over a very tricky topic! Good luck with the vegan adventure. I'll have to live vicariously through you...

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