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On what basis? I've had to deal with copyright issues in the past and present for publication purposes and what I stated is pretty much, in brief, the way it works (for the many countries that are signatories of the Berne Convention, though in this case we're talking about U.S. Copyright Law and a U.S. HOA, so Berne isn't really applicable). So what do you know that makes you think that they are not subject to copyright (which would exist from the moment of creation)?
Many HOAs now have their CCR's, etc., online in a website run by the Board or management company on behalf of the Board these days. Perhaps you should find a few HOA websites that include this and show them to the Board - they're great for promoting the neighborhood and assist those homeowners who are selling in finding buyers (these days people would prefer to read the HOA docs before making an offer, even if they know they're going to be charged for them as part of the sale, to avoid the expense of inspections, etc., only to find that the CCR's contain something they can't or don't want to live with).
As for the statement that the docs are not copyrighted, I'm not an attorney, but I do know that EVERYTHING other than government documents falls under copyright protection from the moment that it is first created in fixed form (and on a computer counts, per the U.S. Copyright Office website). Since HOA docs are not government documents, they would seem to be copyrighted and cannot be published anywhere without permission of the copyright holder, usually the author but in this case perhaps the HOA depending on the contract to create them) without being in violation of copyright infringement.
Copyright is for authors and inventors. For example, a statement made by me on this forum is not copyrighted despite the fact that a single author wrote it.
Condo Declarations are public information and are available from your County Clerk's office. They are not copyrighted.
As for minutes, I don't see anything that would make them copyrighted material. You could check your state condo statutes, it will specify the regulations for sharing minutes, I believe.
As for minutes, I don't see anything that would make them copyrighted material. You could check your state condo statutes, it will specify the regulations for sharing minutes, I believe.
As far as the state statutes, all I can see is:
(3) the minute book, as maintained by the organization of unit owners, to the extent such minutes are kept; and
(4) financial records, including the following:
(i) records of all receipts and expenditures, invoices and vouchers authorizing payments, receivables, and bank statements relating thereto;
(ii) records regarding the replacement reserve fund or any other funds of the organization of unit owners and bank statements relating thereto;
(iii) audits, reviews, accounting statements, and financial reports relating to the finances of the organization of unit owners;
(iv) contracts for work to be performed for or services to be provided to the organization of unit owners; and
(v) all current insurance policies of the organization of unit owners, or policies which name the organization as insured or obligee.
Such records shall be kept in an up-to-date manner within the commonwealth and shall be available for reasonable inspection by any unit owner or by any mortgagee holding a recorded first mortgage on a unit during regular business hours and at such other times as may be provided in the agreement between the manager or managing agent and the organization of unit owners. Access to said records shall include the right to photocopy said records at the expense of the person or entity making the request.
I don't know, I'm sure if I were to publish them they'd find a lawyer who could find a way to sue me and then charge me all their lawyers fees on top of it. These people are truly mental. I'm not dealing with normal people, but thugs.
Very simple. Register the domain name, make the registration private, publish the site and let them bring forth a lawsuit.
Then take them to the cleaners.
Accomplishes several things, the site goes up, you get a lot of money and own all their homes too.
Ha! I don't think I would win. I'm sure they'd be able to come up with something to make a case against me... (these people are thugs, ...think "the Departed" ...Massachusetts State Police...). Off the top of my head they might make a case that I am affecting peoples' property prices somehow, affecting the association negatively somehow, something like that.
They would tell you not to rock the boat. Psst. You can't rock a boat that is stuck in the mud. You don't have an ethics problem. The board has a corruption problem.
Very simple. Register the domain name, make the registration private, publish the site and let them bring forth a lawsuit.
Then take them to the cleaners.
Accomplishes several things, the site goes up, you get a lot of money and own all their homes too.
Good one!
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