According their 2008 and 2009 Form 990 filings, Timonen was not an employee at all. He was a contractor. He claimed rights to the DVDs, but contributions to audio-visual productions are specifically exempted as being considered work-for-hire, so his claim there is wrong. As for the website and the logo, if there's no work-for-hire contract, there can still be the issue of joint copyright if they worked cooperatively. If the foundation wrote the blurbs for the DVDs (like if they were taken directly from the DVD cover or included quotes from the DVD itself), the copyright will most likely belong to them, and that will be resolved with the effort put into making it into a web page.
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Richard Dawkins brings court case
- Thread starter cj.23
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According their 2008 and 2009 Form 990 filings, Timonen was not an employee at all. He was a contractor. He claimed rights to the DVDs, but contributions to audio-visual productions are specifically exempted as being considered work-for-hire, so his claim there is wrong. As for the website and the logo, if there's no work-for-hire contract, there can still be the issue of joint copyright if they worked cooperatively. If the foundation wrote the blurbs for the DVDs (like if they were taken directly from the DVD cover or included quotes from the DVD itself), the copyright will most likely belong to them, and that will be resolved with the effort put into making it into a web page.
roger
Penultimate Amazing
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SezMe
post-pre-born
My crystal ball says this never sees the inside of a courtroom. There will be a negotiated settlement which will include the proviso that the parties button their lips. In this case, you'll never get the full story.
Xplodyncow
New Blood
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After composing an eloquent, thoughtful, nuanced, and reasoned post on his blog, Timonen worked out the remainder of his teen angst by slamming his bedroom door shut, heaving himself onto his bed, and screaming along with the All-American Rejects.
Puppycow
Penultimate Amazing
Why did Dawkins put so much faith in this man?
Also, that JT is apparently a member here, too.
TubbaBlubba
Knave of the Dudes
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I seriously doubt he wrote that himself. He's always rather humble in his books, at least. Maybe he's getting senile.
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Complicated. Doing business with a friend is ever fraught with danger, even if both parties see themselves as honest. One man's idea of reasonable reward can be another's idea of embezzlement.
I can't, personally, see what the age of Timonen's girlfriend has to do with anything.
I also have problems understanding what the RDF auditors were doing throughout all this.
Are such trusts subject to audit , as a PLC would be? I have no idea. I do know JREF, as a 401 charity, IS required to produce annual financial statements.
As for JT's response, his memory of his own conduct during the RDF forum shutdown seems to have been airbrushed a tad.
Dawkins is old school. If he thinks he / RDF has been the victim of a crime, I suspect he will pursue it to a possibly excessive extent. Whether that would be in the interest of RDF is open to doubt. The legal niceties of intellectual property ownership must be sorted first though. Maybe JT had a legal right to what he took. If the numbers are remotely correct , I cannot see how he could claim a moral right.
My psychic powers predict some lawyers are about to get richer.
I can't, personally, see what the age of Timonen's girlfriend has to do with anything.
I also have problems understanding what the RDF auditors were doing throughout all this.
Are such trusts subject to audit , as a PLC would be? I have no idea. I do know JREF, as a 401 charity, IS required to produce annual financial statements.
As for JT's response, his memory of his own conduct during the RDF forum shutdown seems to have been airbrushed a tad.
Dawkins is old school. If he thinks he / RDF has been the victim of a crime, I suspect he will pursue it to a possibly excessive extent. Whether that would be in the interest of RDF is open to doubt. The legal niceties of intellectual property ownership must be sorted first though. Maybe JT had a legal right to what he took. If the numbers are remotely correct , I cannot see how he could claim a moral right.
My psychic powers predict some lawyers are about to get richer.
arthwollipot
Limerick Purist Pronouns: He/Him
A member search for "joshtimonen" returns no results at this time.
Professor Yaffle
Butterbeans and Breadcrumbs
Probably hasn't been approved yet.
Just as an aside, I do business with friends/family one of two ways. Either I charge my "best customer" rate and treat them like a customer or I substantially discount it (or do it for free) with the understanding that regular customers come first. I give them the choice up front, and it really does help reduce bad feelings.
You're not using your imagination.
I'm not an expert on the law, but I don't think audits would have been required for RDFRS. Their yearly revenue was under $400K, and I don't think audits became required until you're in the $2M range (not 100% sure).
I'd say that's a fair assessment. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
I wrote a quatrain when I was 17 that predicted this lawsuit.
stijndeloose
Thinker
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Well, I'm not celebrating. But I don't feel particularly sorry for either Josh or Richard either.
cj.23
Master Poster
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I do, it must be hard for both, but I am laughing heartily after how they treated us in the past. Still I'm trying to forgive. I was never a very god Christian, but I do try!
cj x
stijndeloose
Thinker
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Nothing. Actually, as far as I know, his girlfriend doesn't have anything to do with the matter at all. I'm having trouble understanding why she's even being discussed.
Just a wee bit. I wonder if he remembers who deleted a number of members' entire posting history.
Yes.stijndeloose
Thinker
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I do, it must be hard for both, but I am laughing heartily after how they treated us in the past. Still I'm trying to forgive. I was never a very god Christian, but I do try!
cj x
Ha! Well, I don't believe he's really sorry anyway.
So Josh isn't here yet? I, for one, hope he doesn't join up.
Delvo
Дэлво Δε&#
Interesting... it seems to be mostly about the forum closing, instead of being about the lawsuit.
When it seems to be earned by experience, reputation, or evidence, it's not faith. The word then is "trust".
Remember to do the conversions; they use metric money over there.
I'll admit that the bit about the two owls seems to fit, but which one is the one that ate the snake, and who's the snake? And seriously, that part about the river of orchids was just weird.
Well, allegedly she received some of the money under discussion, but her age seems to be irrelevant to that.
I was referring specifically to the RDFRS in the USA. I don't know where to find the numbers for the UK entity or their laws.
stijndeloose
Thinker
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Ah, I must've missed that. But yes, her age is irrelevant. As are her looks.