Hi, JDB -

Those are great points and questions, brilliant and relevant in fact, so please allow me to personally answer them for you.

There are really several pertinent issues here, as you so skillfully noted. I will try to give *very brief* answers out of respect for space and time here on the board, but still address your valid concerns. Fair enough?

1. Plagiarism - To Steal or Not to Steal?

This is obviously a really important issue to the workshop or seminar speakers and the host.

Typically, a seminar or workshop attendee is asked (ordered) not to use any type of recording device, neither audio nor video, during any part of the formal workshop sessions. But, afterwards or during breaks, it is fine to do so. This is how a lot of new or complementary products are created "live."

In addition, the *preprinted* workshop or seminar notes are typically protected by copyright.

Obviously, the recording device ban does not apply to pencils, pens, and paper. Some folks even used their laptops instead. No problem.

Two relevant reasons for this situation are that this scenario protects the intellectual rights of the host and speakers, and it attempts to prevent pirated, *unauthorized* use of the materials.

That said, any unethical person can simply buy the tapes, copy them, and sell pirate versions if they are determined to do so. Tragically, this happens every day on the Net. Just ask any of the so-called gurus - their stuff is stolen and knocked off as soon as it is released - a major problem.

As Marlon Sanders told me at dinner, "Hey, Chip - get real. As soon as you release something new, someone will steal it and sell it for half price - that's just a fact of doing business on the Web." 'Sad - but true, my friend.

2. The Information - Whose Is It?

This is a bit more complicated. First, the speakers at the workshops are being paid to share *their* (copyrighted) information. Second, the attendees are usually investing a fairly large sum of money to hear it (buying the rights to use the information.) And third, if the attendees could not *use* that information - why would they attend? There would be no seminars or workshops.

3. Use Of The Information - Now What?

Let's use me as an example so as not to be too abstract. First, I invested something around $3000-$3500 to attend. I need a return on my investment - right?

Second, the speakers were well paid to tell me good, usable info. If they didn't do that, it would just be a pitch-fest meeting, and the attendees would not be happy.

Third, the dissemination of the information is a form of viral marketing for the host and the speakers, which results in more speaker information (products) being sold, more seminar or workshop seats being purchased, and the client lists of both of the above being propagated in the future. Everybody wins.

Again, as Marlon told me Saturday night at dinner, "Look - the people at seminars are either your current competition or your future competition - that's just a fact of life. Deal with it." Ya gotta love Marlon. He' real.

Finally, in my case, I *do not* claim the information as my own, so I am paraphrasing - not plagiarizing. And just as important - at the very top of every lesson I reveal from whom the following information came - so I *do not* claim it as my own. No intellectual property theft.

You can make the analogy that I am a bit like a newspaper reporter. I pay attention, I am persistent, I get my questions answered, and then report back to my "readers."

Second, since I *do not* charge any money for my lessons, I am not profiting. No money. No theft.

Third, if my readers enjoy the lessons and want to go further in any particular area in their quest to become a "Master" at that particular subject, I refer them to the Master - the speaker from the workshop from whom the information came. No redirection of revenue, income, good will, or intellectual property rights occurs.

Lastly, I include "value added" - my two cents worth based on 25 years in marketing and coaching, so the end product is current, very relevant, 100% true, hopefully helpful, and is "Branded" by me in this format.

Perhaps think of it this way: There are scores of books in your bookstore that teach you how to use Microsoft products. Most are not put out by MS - but they teach you how to use the product - right? That's what I do, too.

And, once again, I never charge anyone a cent to be in NoCost Coaching. You have to *buy* that MS product book in your local bookstore - right?

Therefore, JDB, I (specifically and on purpose) do not meet *any* of the necessary prerequisites for a violation of *any* of the issues you raised and I just explained in this post. On purpose.

To do otherwise would make me a fraud.

I hope this better explains the honest issues and concerns that everyone rightfully has as it pertains to these types of situations. Thank you again for your great points and questions.

God Bless you,

Respectfully,

Chip Tarver
<
Your NoCost Coach
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> Rick,

> You have introduced an interesting point
> for discussion...does Mr. Tarver have the
> right to "divulge" the secrets
> that were
> delivered at the workshop?

> If there was no "confidentiality"
> contract
> signed by participants, then he probably
> is free to do what he wants.

> Which brings up the point that several of
> the
> promotions I have seen recently are
> including
> confidentiality phrases in their marketing.

> If you buy my tape, you must promise not to
> tell anyone else my secrets...

> If you come to this by-invitation-only
> seminar,
> you must promise not to share the
> information
> with anyone...

> So if you learn the facts from the tape or
> seminar,
> and assimilate the information into your
> very being,
> what's to keep it from permeating any future
> info product your creative mind might
> produce?

> And if it does, have you violated the
> confidentiality
> promise/requirement? Could you be held
> liable?

> It seems intellectual property rights are
> getting
> very interesting...

> JDB