FSB Discussion Forums http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/ This is an XML content feed of; FSB Discussion Forums : Last 10 Posts Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:53:32 +0000 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:44:01 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.05 30 www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/RSS_topic_feed.asp FSB Discussion Forums http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_images/newlegal.jpg http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/ Small Business Issues : BT Openreach http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=3055&PID=22797#22797 Author: Nemisis
Subject: BT Openreach
Posted: 12 Mar 2010 at 4:44pm

It sort is and isn't BT

It's owned by BT and operates installing and maintaining phones on behalf of 400 or more other suppliers.
As BT owns the lines OFCOM felt that was just asking for trouble so they ordered BT to offer equal terms to third party suppliers and BT Openreach is the means of having a level playing field in telecoms

It's a whole lot more complicated than that  but that's what it's about generally.

I spent a very interesting evening in a telephone exchange last year with a few of the Senior Managers on an FSB organised jolly and I clearly understood how it all worked and that did not appear to include selling to end users. They sell only to telecom companies. I would be suspicious if I were you.
]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:44:01 +0000 http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=3055&PID=22797#22797 Small Business Issues : BT Openreach http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=3055&PID=22795#22795 Author: iainf365
Subject: BT Openreach
Posted: 12 Mar 2010 at 3:49pm

Like me, you will be frustrated by the number of Telecoms companies that phone you offering rates cheaper than BT. Would you believe that I have now had two phone calls from BT Openreach offering to undercut BT's charges. I had always assumed that BT Openreach was a division of BT that looked after the wired network. I had not realised until now that they must be an independent company that openly competes with BT for land-line and calls provision. What a confusing world we live in. Time they got a new name.]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:49:43 +0000 http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=3055&PID=22795#22795 Small Business Issues : Getty Corbis problems http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=2808&PID=22794#22794 Author: trader1
Subject: Getty Corbis problems
Posted: 12 Mar 2010 at 2:03pm

Originally posted by BOBC

Dear Trader

You might have questioned the interview but you have no knowledge whatsoever of the circumstances. I have known the writer by reputation for over 30 years, he went to college with an ex-assistant of mine. I exchange emails with him fairly frquently. I know him to be a tireless worker on many pro bono projects and an expert on copyright. I know that the interview is genuine and accurate.

Quite what is one sided about photographers, who own their copyright and are the real victims in this, publicising the facts?


Dear BOBC,

You are of course entitled to believe whatever you like. All I have done is pointed out that the so called interview appears on a website that is heavily biased towards photographers and there well known views on the recent Getty copyright infringement letters etc.

I for one and I am sure there are many others who are happy to accept that copyright infringment is not a good thing and those who deliberately seek out and download images without consent should be punished.

However you seem to support the current law which appears to take no account for usage and appears to allow Getty to claim thousands in so called damages for images that may only have appeared on a website for 5 minutes and seen by nobody.

The current law seems to take no account for accidental use ie a web designer providing the images to the end user or images provided in free cd packs.

It seems that many images are sold as large image libaries from company to company and the user would have no idea that this may have occured. The first they may know about it is a threatening letter demanding thousands in damages from someone they have never heard of or ever dealt with.

The whole digital image industry online is a mess. It doesnt work and it needs changing urgently. Surely in this day and age it must be possible for a small executable file to be attached to images that can essentially switch them off if they are used illegally or some other technical answer. You do wonder when they have the technology to identify them via picscout why they couldnt have developed a system of not allowing images to be copied or used without permission?

The only good thing thus far is that the number of cases Getty appear to have taken to court is very small indeed.
 


]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:03:42 +0000 http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=2808&PID=22794#22794 Small Business Issues : yell.com http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=1667&PID=22793#22793 Author: Supportmyoffice
Subject: yell.com
Posted: 12 Mar 2010 at 1:15pm

Thats what i meant Rob, for your local plumber, sparky, washing machine engineer etc then fridge magnets and the likes will probably bring in more than google ever will, unless you're using very specific 'location' keywords, and the 'customer' is searching for the location as well as the trade]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:15:16 +0000 http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=1667&PID=22793#22793 Small Business Issues : Does anyone want to advertise for employees? http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=3054&PID=22792#22792 Author: optimalwebsite
Subject: Does anyone want to advertise for employees?
Posted: 12 Mar 2010 at 1:05pm

Advertising deleted
 
 


Edited by dave stallon - Today at 3:54pm]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:05:05 +0000 http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=3054&PID=22792#22792 Small Business Issues : yell.com http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=1667&PID=22791#22791 Author: Rob Hadingham
Subject: yell.com
Posted: 12 Mar 2010 at 1:00pm

The trouble with 'small trade' advertising on leaflets etc. is that people prefer to have trusted recommendations. So to break through that you should consider unbeatable limited-time promotional offers (make a loss!) - but make sure you do follow-up marketing and have a reward-based refer-a-friend scheme. Even have additional products/services that you can up-sell once your foot is in the door.]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:00:57 +0000 http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=1667&PID=22791#22791 Small Business Issues : yell.com http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=1667&PID=22789#22789 Author: Rob Hadingham
Subject: yell.com
Posted: 12 Mar 2010 at 12:46pm

Leaflets, magnets, and local papers are probably good for home-related consumers services and small trades. But for other categories e.g. business-to-business and national retail, I don't see it. I don't think I'll be dropping 'AdWords Management' magnets through my neighbours door just yet!

I must say leaflets, local papers, business cards, unsolicited mail, all end up in our bin. But if I receive an attractive magnet then it's kept. My son has a fine collection of magnet lorries (from the oil delivery company). That said I always go for the cheapest oil quote - a magnet doesn't buy my loyalty! ]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:46:24 +0000 http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=1667&PID=22789#22789 Small Business Issues : FreeIndex http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=3049&PID=22788#22788 Author: Supportmyoffice
Subject: FreeIndex
Posted: 12 Mar 2010 at 12:27pm

Anything new with the way google ranks things always takes a while to settle down. You get some sites that are top of google one day, and next day they're completely gone! Give it a few weeks to settle down and see what happens. If your site is relevant to the search phrase, it will rank high]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:27:06 +0000 http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=3049&PID=22788#22788 Small Business Issues : yell.com http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=1667&PID=22787#22787 Author: Supportmyoffice
Subject: yell.com
Posted: 12 Mar 2010 at 12:24pm

I think leaflet drops, fridge magnets and local paper is the way to go for the small businesses.
A website is great as long as it's well designed, and your target audience uses a computer! Nowadays a website is a must, but don't go blowing all your cash trying to get to the top of google.

]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:24:47 +0000 http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=1667&PID=22787#22787 Small Business Issues : Getty Corbis problems http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=2808&PID=22786#22786 Author: BOBC
Subject: Getty Corbis problems
Posted: 12 Mar 2010 at 11:49am

Dear Trader

You might have questioned the interview but you have no knowledge whatsoever of the circumstances. I have known the writer by reputation for over 30 years, he went to college with an ex-assistant of mine. I exchange emails with him fairly frquently. I know him to be a tireless worker on many pro bono projects and an expert on copyright. I know that the interview is genuine and accurate.

Quite what is one sided about photographers, who own their copyright and are the real victims in this, publicising the facts?
]]> Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:49:41 +0000 http://www.fsb.org.uk/discuss/forum_posts.asp?TID=2808&PID=22786#22786