Paranormal Data Collected At Private Residence Investigation

[rubycat3]

What is the name of your state? CALIFORNIA

I belonged to a volunteer-only paranormal research group. We'd go on investigations at cemeteries, known-haunted locations, and once in a while private residences to collect data, data consists of digital or analog tape recordings, video footage, photographic images, et. al. There's a member's handbook and a member's release form I signed upon joining the group. I quit the group and have my data I collected at these places. I've joined another group and posted some of the data on their website. I have not disclosed the name or location of the private residence. One of the leaders of the ex-group stumbled across the posts and is demanding the posts be removed stating I dont have permission from their group to post the data. I'd like to know if the ex-group has a legal-leg to stand on or not because she is threatening a lawsuit. Noted below is the member's release form. The member's handbook as nothing noted regarding collected data. My belief is that since the location of the private residence has not been disclosed there should not be a problem. I used my own equipment and have not been compensated for any of my time or expertise in the paranormal field, therefore, I have all legal rights to my data I collect at any and all locations.

Member Release Form
I, _____________, Prospective Member / Member of xxxxx hereby releases the all parties of xxxxx and owner / occupant of any said location of investigation from any liability for injuries that occur at said location to my own persons and / or damages to equipment brought to investigation sites / incurred during the investigation due to accidents, other persons, natural causes, paranormal or acts of god.

I, further more, agree to responsibility and pay any damages done to investigation premises, people and / or equipment during the investigation caused from myself in the rare chance that should happen.

I agree to abide by Rules and regulations of xxxxx at all times. I also agree that No information about the investigation will be released without signed copies of the current release forms by client and permission granted by xxxxx All information / Data Collected during investigations is the Shared Property of xxxxx and client for client privacy and research purposes.

Thanks and I hope to hear a reply fairly soon and thank you in advance for any help with this matter.

 

[Some Random Guy]

read your own post

so you willingly signed a document that said "All information / Data Collected during investigations is the Shared Property of xxxxx and client for client privacy and research purposes.", where neither xxxxxx or client is you.

Then you take this data and use it for your competing group's web site.

I don't know how much more black and white this can be.

 

[seniorjudge]

What you should do is prove that stuff like this exists and show them all.

www.randi.org

Win a million dollars if you can prove these things exist.

 

[rubycat3]

so you willingly signed a document that said "All information / Data Collected during investigations is the Shared Property of xxxxx and client for client privacy and research purposes.", where neither xxxxxx or client is you.

Then you take this data and use it for your competing group's web site.

I don't know how much more black and white this can be.

So, since the member's release form does not exclude me from the data I've collected I have all owner's rights to the data - it belongs to me and I can do whatever I please with this data without the threat of any legal repercussions. This is a social club (xxxxx) that dismissed any and all audio recordings as non-paranormal. But after the data was posted on the other website (which is a non-competing group as they network frequently and regard themselves as research affiliates), that's when the issue arose.

Can I hang my hat on this by chance...?

From the following site

http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/intelprp/

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[seniorjudge]

Sooooo, since the member's release form does not exclude me from the data I've collected I have all owner's rights to the data - it belongs to me and I can do whatever I please with this data without the threat of any legal repercussions. Hmmmpf, just as I suspected, smoke was being blown up my yazoooooo...

Thanks sooooo much not such the 'some random guy'. You need to change that to; "you da man!"

I think you need to re-read the post.

 

[rubycat3]

What you should do is prove that stuff like this exists and show them all.

www.randi.org

Win a million dollars if you can prove these things exist.

Thanks Judge, for your resourceful information. I'll let you know if I win the million da-la-da-la bills.

 

[rubycat3]

I think you need to re-read the post.

Thanks again Judge...let some random guy clarify with me vs. banter.

 

[seniorjudge]

Thanks again Judge...let some random guy clarify with me vs. banter.

I will stand by and keep my mouth shut.

 

[rubycat3]

I will stand by and keep my mouth shut.

I'm looking for some very much needed advice, if that's what's being offered then please dont standby and dont shut-up. What I'm not looking for is suggestions on proving the content or the subject of my post. And if someone else has posted a message to me, and I've misread it, please let them clarify or validate to me directly. Unless you can speak on their behalf?

Again, thanks for your input...kindest regards

 

[divgradcurl]

I'm looking for some very much needed advice

And you received it from Some Random Guy in the first reply to this thread. The answer to your question was in your original post -- you can't use the material without permission from xxxx and the client.

 

[rubycat3]

And you received it from Some Random Guy in the first reply to this thread. The answer to your question was in your original post -- you can't use the material without permission from xxxx and the client.

Thank you, thank you, thank you...and kindest regards. I appreciate the clarification because I really needed it s-p-e-l-l-e-d out for me. I consider it was the use of improper punctuation when reading the original post is where I failed to differentiate the meaning of the reply (I read it as a statement, not a question). And the other post merely served as ineffectual communique.

I wont make that kind of mistake again...in signing a release of that nature.

Best wishes to all in 2005...