Rules are meant to keep people safe, but some rules are just stupid. WSOE is trying to promote a show at The Lighthouse Tavern tonight, but we are not allowed to put up flyers because of one word: “Lighthouse.”

WSOE is Elon University’s radio station. On 89.3 FM, we play music and host talk shows on air. Off air, we are trying our best to support the community and local music because we feel it is important for the people to be a part of the local scene.

Our problem is that we do not receive money to bring bands on campus. Most bands want to be paid to play shows because it is their career and the only way we can ensure they are paid is by partnering up with music venues around Elon. One paying music venue is Lighthouse.

Sure, Lighthouse serves alcohol, but they also provide local music. Cantina serves alcohol and they are allowed to promote events.

So why can’t Lighthouse be promoted on campus? Is it because it’s one of the many locations Elon students choose to get drunk? If that’s the case, what does it matter if we put up a flyer? People already know about Lighthouse and will be getting drunk regardless of WSOE’s presence.

Is it because Lighthouse is an off campus location? Elon should be supportive of the local businesses that maintain an economic health among the local community.

Elon is proud of its many organizations, but it wont let them spread the word about events they are sponsoring off campus. Elon is trying to make sure that all of the organizations are at their best, so why won’t they let us bring in more participants?

Two other problematic words are “Guitar” and “Hero.” These words are fine separate from each other, but when combined we were told we have to ask permission because of copyright issues.

Our poster was fine and allowable under Section 107 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the U.S. Code) which identifies the four basic criteria for fair use:

1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;

2. The nature of the copyrighted work;

3. Amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and

4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

Our poster met all the criteria as follows:

1. The purpose was for use by a non-profit group for a non-commercial not-for-profit event hosted by said group which was part of an educational institution not to mention for charity

2. The copyrighted work was promotional work released by the owner, and used to illustrate the work and event at hand, and was not used for us to claim the work as our own or used with the intention to detract from Activision, the owner of the work.

3. The work was partially used at the lowest resolution available, as it was covered up by text and boxes and otherwise not suitable to be re-used for malicious purposes, and in relation to the game itself is two screenshots of the work, while the game is much greater

4. The uses would not have affected the market in any way, as the works used are of no value to the source work, which has been legally obtained and used in conjunction with its end user agreement. The images used were either released as promotional images for the purpose of promoting their product, which we did, or low-resolution for the purpose of selling the product, allowed by Activision. The images and text (Guitar Hero III) also could only help promote the product by giving exposure, if those who choose to participate don’t already own the product.

That said, our poster was 100 percent acceptable under Fair Use, even in the strictest interpretations.

The only image used in this poster is self-made by a friend and has been released in the public domain.

WSOE will host a Guitar Hero tournament on Nov. 16. All proceeds will go to the East Guilford High School music program, the school that recently burned down. And Elon won’t let us promote it?

Sororities are allowed to replicate various logos for shirts, something that is completely illegal, but we aren’t allowed to put up a poster that says, “WSOE presents a Guitar Hero tournament Nov. 16.”

Get off your high horse Elon. There is a drinking problem on this campus, but you can’t disguise it by stopping an organization from promoting a musical event off campus.

So, if you like good local music come out at 10:30 p.m. to Lighthouse and support the Elon band The Terrorsharks and the Raleigh-based Dakota Darling.

For some Guitar Hero action, come

out at 7 p.m. on Nov. 16 to the Harden A and B conference rooms.

Keep a look out for more WSOE sponsored events and don’t forget to tune in at 89.3 FM for contests, giveaways and great music.

Student: Ryan Sweeney - 11/07/07