Post by Aggie One on Sept 22, 2013 11:55:07 GMT -5
Seems to me that the AAF, which I and many of our posters are members of, took some legal bad advice from their counsel in the poor manner they used in this approach to handle the avatar image copyright issue.
In dealing with a number of attorneys in civil actions, the normal first course of action is to research the issue which usually results in a arranged meeting with the parties to discuss any potential problem (s) that need addressed and to resolve such matters quietly, quickly, and efficiently especially if the parties have mutual goals, aspirations, and overlapping interests.
No competent counsel, who had any real knowledge of these two organizations and their potential overlapping interests and membership that are involved, would have IMMEDIATELY gone to a cease and desist letter to a like-minded support group threatening legal action upon posters who are also AAF members that said counsel had been retained to represent.
It is no secret there has been a considerable amount of suspicion and distrust among the rank and file membership concerning the National AAF leadership motivations and many of the local AAF chapters have never been on the same page on several issues. This letter is about as strong of an affirmation that the national organization has indeed lost touch with its surroundings and many of its own membership.
The short version? They just bit the very hands that feeds them. Not smart, not smart at all.
I can understand their copyright infringement worries and the message can and should have been conveyed in a much different tone with an explanation and folks would have gladly complied and it would been over and done with.
But you just don't go out spit in the face of the people that support you every single year with their checks and fund raising by threatening loyal AAF givers with legal action over the use a avatar (which BDV readers use to prove their solidarity with the A&T athletic scholarship cause) on a A&T fan web site, of all places, right out of the box. That is bush league thinking and convoluted logic at its finest.
When asked by the AAF to get the word out and advertise for any AAF events and support projects, Bluedeathvalley.com has never balked or denied any such requests.
Professional courtesy is a two way street Mr. Blackmon.
Try using a phone or a simple email next time instead of sending out form letter filled with threats of initiating legal action and offering insinuations that the AAF is being financially ripped off by its own donors.
It was insulting and it will have serious consequences if the adminsration doesn't get out in front of this and take control of its communications.
In dealing with a number of attorneys in civil actions, the normal first course of action is to research the issue which usually results in a arranged meeting with the parties to discuss any potential problem (s) that need addressed and to resolve such matters quietly, quickly, and efficiently especially if the parties have mutual goals, aspirations, and overlapping interests.
No competent counsel, who had any real knowledge of these two organizations and their potential overlapping interests and membership that are involved, would have IMMEDIATELY gone to a cease and desist letter to a like-minded support group threatening legal action upon posters who are also AAF members that said counsel had been retained to represent.
It is no secret there has been a considerable amount of suspicion and distrust among the rank and file membership concerning the National AAF leadership motivations and many of the local AAF chapters have never been on the same page on several issues. This letter is about as strong of an affirmation that the national organization has indeed lost touch with its surroundings and many of its own membership.
The short version? They just bit the very hands that feeds them. Not smart, not smart at all.
I can understand their copyright infringement worries and the message can and should have been conveyed in a much different tone with an explanation and folks would have gladly complied and it would been over and done with.
But you just don't go out spit in the face of the people that support you every single year with their checks and fund raising by threatening loyal AAF givers with legal action over the use a avatar (which BDV readers use to prove their solidarity with the A&T athletic scholarship cause) on a A&T fan web site, of all places, right out of the box. That is bush league thinking and convoluted logic at its finest.
When asked by the AAF to get the word out and advertise for any AAF events and support projects, Bluedeathvalley.com has never balked or denied any such requests.
Professional courtesy is a two way street Mr. Blackmon.
Try using a phone or a simple email next time instead of sending out form letter filled with threats of initiating legal action and offering insinuations that the AAF is being financially ripped off by its own donors.
It was insulting and it will have serious consequences if the adminsration doesn't get out in front of this and take control of its communications.