Here’s a link to a post on seomoz.org that offers some proof that we all need to be more aware of what’s going on within the legal issues of this thing we call the ‘net.

More and more, every day, this things getting stickier and uglier. If you prepare now, with the proper documents, you won’t suffer later.

Ask.The.Question.

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It’s almost time for us to shut down this campaign, tally up the questions and figure out the best way to make the info available.

Before I present all the questions to Bob, I’d like to give you one more snippet of info and one last chance to Ask Bob Silber.

1) Did you know that there are four simple things your blog/website must have right now, otherwise you’re asking for trouble ?

2) Did you know Mrs. Fields Cookies was fined $100,000 and Hershey’s Chocolate was fined $80,000 for having improper Privacy Statements ?

3) Did you know the marketing strategy you’re using right now is probably illegal ?

4) Did you know most peoples conceptions about intellectual property is completely wrong ?

5) Do you know what the real uses of Trademarks and Copyrights actaully are ? Probably not, because almost every blog/website we check is catastrophically wrong.

I just noticed a great stance taken on parts of these issues over at The Blog Herald. Matt has taken a stance that I seem to agree completely with, which is unusual for me, since I’m not easily swayed.

Take 5 minutes and Ask.A.Question.

Take 5 minutes to help ensure your freedom in the future.

Don’t let this get so bad that the government comes in and whacks this whole thing like only they can fudge it up.

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Via The Blog Herald, I see another instance of a judge who has his eye on the blogosphere. It will only get worse and we’ll only have more trouble if we don’t address it now.

Go now and Ask.A.Question and get an answer before you get a Cease & Desist.

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Did any of you notice the “discussion” going on over at Chartreuse’s blog.

First we have a “discussion” over the improper use of photos and then we have a side “discussion” over copyright and Creative Commons.

Second we have Char giving us his version ( completely wrong I might add ) of his interpretation of the law.

You might like to click thru and read the “discussion“, including all the comments and then come back here and go to the Ask Bob Silber page and ask for an interpretation of the applicable laws from someone who actually knows them, rather than someone who wants to change them to suit his style of blogging.

Once again, The Simple One ( that would be me ) is ahead of the curve. I had seen some of this coming, which is why I started this campaign.

Beware – Side Rant Ahead : Long ago, I tried to tell you guys to blog for corporations/businesses and not for contextual ad dollars. Now the contextual ad business is slowly changing towards not being as lucrative as some would lead you to believe.

Seen any Fed Ex photos of large AdSense checks lately ? Me neither.

But the weekly checks I get from the corporations I blog for keep on coming. And the contracts are for a long time.

I have more businesses and corporations wanting me to build and be the voice of their blog than I can possibly do.

Back to our main issue :

This issue, copyright and content usage is not going away. Take the time now to make sure you’re on the right side of the law.

Despite the protestations of a few who don’t like, or like to adhere to, the law, they ain’t changing ‘em anytime soon.

Note to all : This ain’t just about this one “discussion”. This is a common issue among bloggers everywhere.

Go.Ask.The.Questions. – and we’ll all be better off as we further cement the laws and their interpretations.

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A special hello to those of you who arrived here via our Press Release, a link or Trackback due to our Ask Bob Silber campaign.

For more info on what we’re doing to try and help bloggers avoid costly legal blunders, we suggest you visit these links :

Thanks for stopping by, please participate by asking a question and, if you can help spread the word about this campaign, please do.

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