UTAS "not happy" with UTAS Blog
The University reckon we're infringing their copyright. We at the UTAS Blog are not so sure.
We'll post developments.
UTAS emailed us,
Dear Admin
Thank you for responding to my email.
While the University respects and encourages freedom of opinion and expression through such media as the internet, it is not appropriate for you to display the University's Public Logo without permission. The UTAS logo is a registered trademark and is copyright to the University of Tasmania. You are in breach of copyright by including the logo on your website without permission. Can you please remove it from your website at your earliest opportunity and confirm when you have done so.
Kind regards
We said,
Hi CCCC,
Thanks for your prompt email.
We at "the UTAS blog" feel we provide a service that "respects and encourages freedom of opinion and expression through such media as the internet" and as such request permission to use the University of Tasmania logo on our site. If you would like to discuss any limitations of usage please let us know.
Best Regards
Admin
UTAS said,
Dear Admin
Thank you for your request. Your site is not an official University website and the University would like to ensure that it cannot be mistaken as one. In the circumstances, your request for permission to use the University logo is refused. Please remove the logo from your site as soon as possible and advise when you have done so.
Kind regards
CCCCC
University sent us this little gem: "Your site is not an official University website and the University would like to ensure that it cannot be mistaken as one."
Well, that's us told!
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Some clarification.
We've been using a "version" of the UTAS logo for some while now.
But, given the response we've had, our team of dedicated designers have spent literally minutes working on a new logo for the UTAS Blog. It's on the front page and we're proud of the "Sheep passant SUCKS" logo.
Don't think we're backing down from the UTAS Corporate demands, it's just that we can do a better logo in about 1/2hr.
You'll still find the UTAS logo "satirised" version within several entries.
More to follow...
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Well, it looks like there's one rule for UTAS Student complaints Blogs (that's us) and another for UTAS Liaison Librarians' Blogs!
The librarians get to use the UTAS logo in a non-official Blogspot site but we get threatened with all sorts of dire consequences.
Rest assured we'll post the (lame) response from UTAS about this discrepancy.
PS we hope you like our new alternate logo "Lion Statant Holding Out The Forepaw Or. SUCKS"
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Did you get a response from teh university?
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No. We didn't. BTW that's the typical response of the University of Tasmania to any sort of difficulty.
From the University of Tasmania Administration Guidelines 2008 (p12)
"Rule 1.2.30: DO NOT RESPOND to DIFFICULT EMAILS. It is likely that the sender will forget about it. And if they do not forget then they will be so annoyed at the lack of a response they will say/do something more provocative and hence can be dismissed as a "nut-case" etc."
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If you're using the UTAS logo in a "sardonic" sense you can do that legally.
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Hi Critic,
tell us more,
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Come on, you know as well as I do that despite signing "Berne" Australia has provisions for satire.
The expected "fair usage" applies but if it's satire you can get away with just about anything.
So are you guys going to "beef it up" or not?
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