What is Copyright?

[AsadA969]

What is copyright ? Could you please explain elaborately about the matter?
If I discuss any question from Official Guide without providing the actual question and answer option in the forum, will it be under copyright violation?
Thanks

[StaceyKoprince]

When an owner copyrights specific text, it means that nobody else has the right to reprint or distribute that text without permission from the owner. That's why we can't print the text of OG problems here; the owner (GMAT) prohibits that kind of use of any of its for-a-fee copyrighted materials. (They do allow us to show the text of free problems.)

As a a result of this, we decided not to host OG problems at all on the forums because it is too hard to explain or discuss a problem when you can't reproduce the text of that problem.

We do offer a product called GMAT Navigator, where we have posted our own solutions to a bunch of OG problems. We still don't (can't) reproduce the text of the problems - you have to have the books yourself to look up the problems - but you can see (in either written or video format) what we though the best solution is (or are - sometimes we post more than one solution).

There are both free and paid forms of Navigator - the free one will give you an idea of what's included, but it only allows you to access certain pieces of the content. The paid version allows you to access the full program.

I will mention that there are other forums that do post OG problems and allow users to discuss. Unfortunately, they do so in violation of copyright law. We aren't willing to do that.

[AsadA969]

Thanks Stacey for your reply.

When an owner copyrights specific text, it means that nobody else has the right to reprint or distribute that text without permission from the owner.
As a a result of this, we decided not to host OG problems at all on the forums because it is too hard to explain or discuss a problem when you can't reproduce the text of that problem.

That means we are allowed to discuss OG questions without reprint the WHOLE question, but, the Manhattan Forum does not discuss the OG problem as because of it is difficult to discuss something without seeing the actual question, it not it?
Thanks.

[StaceyKoprince]

Yes, they allow people to discuss the problems, but we can't reprint the whole thing or even most of it. Basically, we can't reprint enough that someone else would be able to study from it without having bought the book themselves.

So with that as the standard...it's tough to discuss it.

[AsadA969]

Thank you so much StaceyKoprince.

[AsadA969]

Hi, Stacey.
Hope you are well. The day before yesterday, I watched a audio-visual from Thursdays with Ron --July 10, 2014 (https://vimeo.com/100809189) in which you've discussed 3 OG questions. I want to ask a question from these OG questions. You said, OG questions are totally protected by GMAC. So, how can I ask this question? If I ask any question from this link by quoting every words, will there be any violation?
Thanks....

[StaceyKoprince]

The questions cannot be posted here, no - sorry. I know people do post these online on other websites, but GMAC has indicated that they do not want people to do so (naturally, because they want people to buy their materials, not find the problems printed on websites for free). And we play by the rules - if GMAC enforces their copyright by not giving permission to reprint OG materials, then we don't reprint OG materials.

I would suggest attending Thursdays with Ron sessions and seeing whether you can ask him questions there. If you have access to our GMAT Navigator program, then you can find our own solutions to many OG problems there (though you will still need your own copy of the book to view the problems).

[AsadA969]

The questions cannot be posted here, no - sorry. I know people do post these online on other websites, but GMAC has indicated that they do not want people to do so (naturally, because they want people to buy their materials, not find the problems printed on websites for free). And we play by the rules - if GMAC enforces their copyright by not giving permission to reprint OG materials, then we don't reprint OG materials.

Hi, Stacey. I am still confused about Copyright. When you (Instructors of Manhattan GMAT) discuss something from OG, it can’t be copyright but when we (students) want to discuss something from OG then it is going to be Copyright. I've no intention to hurt you by writing this; but actually I want to know the matter why discussing something from OG is copyright for us not for you guys.

If you discuss those questions from OG (if they are simultaneously seen in GMATprep) then it is ok, isn't it? So, are those questions discussed only from GMATprep in these (https://vimeo.com/100809189) site?

I would suggest attending Thursdays with Ron sessions and seeing whether you can ask him questions there. If you have access to our GMAT Navigator program, then you can find our own solutions to many OG problems there (though you will still need your own copy of the book to view the problems).

I can access GMAT Navigator program where I do not need to have using my own books because you discussed all the problems by using the OG problem word by word!


Thank you Stacey.

[StaceyKoprince]

We have not reprinted or redistributed the OG problem. If the problem is posted here in the forums, that is the equivalent of distributing it to the world; we do not have permission to do that.

Navigator does not contain the full text of the problem; it contains only the first few words to allow people to confirm that they are looking up the correct problem. The full text of the problem is printed / distributed only in the Official Guide physical book, the Official Guide e-book, or the online access that comes with the Official Guide book - all of which is owned by GMAC, the organization that makes the GMAT.

There is nothing legally wrong with discussing the problem, as long as the text of the problem is not printed / publicized / distributed. But it is difficult to do so on the forums when we cannot include the text of the problem in the thread. That would require teachers to answer only when they have access to their books and to look up the problem each time they want to respond to a thread. We can barely keep up with forum traffic as it is. Adding that additional layer of time / effort would add too much of a burden. If we are going to keep offering the forums as a free public service, then we have to draw the line somewhere. I wish we had unlimited time and funds, but we don't.

[AsadA969]

Actually, I wanted to mean about video tutorial (watch a video explanation) in which whole the question has been reprint word by word. here is a link:
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/navigator/
Anyway, Thanks.

[StaceyKoprince]

Navigator is limited; it is not freely open to the public. In order to see all of the video explanations, you need full access to the program, which comes with the purchase of our course or self-study program or full book set - all of which include the OG. In this case, you are allowed to share the material for study purposes (for this same reason, we can study OG problems in class - everyone in the class has a copy of the OG).

[AsadA969]

Thanks Stacey.

[StaceyKoprince]

you're welcome!