Update on book about b watson
 

Some of you may recall my earlier post about the book I am writing on the famous/infamous late b watson and the fraud case involving his company, CyberNET.

I have now put together a website about the forthcoming book:

www.bartonwatson.com

Publication is expected fall 2005. My website collects dozens of Barton's most interesting flyertalk posts, as well as his two trip reports.

Admin, please feel free to repost this to another forum if you feel it is more appropriate.

Thanks to you all.

Jim Cameron

looking at the site
 

deserved or not it seems ghoulish and in very poor taste...JMHO

Tough to have your life exposed like that but then again, the man was a cheater and a stealer.. what gives ?

A question and not a challenge: does the author have the right to lift posts from FlyerTalk and use them? I understand that FlyerTalk (Randy?) owns the copyright to our posts, but do not know the implications of that.

I was wondering that too. More a question of does he have Randy's permission.

Interesting video clips...thanx.

Without weighing in on whether or not FlyerTalk can be said to hold a copyright on posts, I feel that this would fall under the Fair Use doctrine if any copyright were found valid.

It's criticism and commentary on BWatson's life and published words. I also can't see what damages Randy could prove unless he were planning to write his own book.

It's a true crime book. Of course someone will write it and of course Barton's published and private communications will be a part of it.

At the present time, there seems to be still an informational aspect to this post that outweighs the commercial one, but would respectfully point out that there are (at least) two relevant aspects of FlyerTalk's Terms of Service:

1) Posts containing promotional messages for commercial or charitable products or services -- included but not limited to Internet sites, business advertisements and solicitations to donate miles or points -- will be removed.

2) Avoiding discussion that attacks the personal aspects of or personality of members, or in this case, former members.

Thanks, Ocn Vw 1K, Community Co-Moderator.

I respect your opinion, but...
 

I was Barton's best friend for the first 19 years of his life. I know that Barton would have approved of the book project. The book is a serious attempt to put some context into his life, and to provide the public with a more complex understanding of the unique and in some ways admirable person that he was. Of course, it is impossible to ignore that he obtained $115 million in fraudulant loans for his company.

Jim Cameron

Thanks
 

Thank you Ocn. Since the book is unfinished, and unsold, the commercial aspect is fairly limited at this point. However, b watson was probably the most interesting flyertalk poster in a long time. I thought many may find more information about him interesting.

Also, my interview with the local TV station, (www.woodtv.com) which aired last friday, as well as the overall content of my website, are by FAR the most positive things publically said about the late Mr. Watson since his death.

Plus, I gave Flyertalk a very nice plug on the website. BTW, the copyright of anything written (including on the internet) belongs the writer, at this point Mr. Watson's estate, which is controlled by a court appointed reciever.

Jim Cameron

barton "fat Bart" Watson? on the front page?
 

I rest my case....

The first question that comes into mind - What's the purpose of this book?

B Watson wasn't the last fraud, and there'll be more out there... Why not spend more time catching those guys?

If you want to remember your friend, I can see many better ways to do it.

I'm also extremely uncomfortable to see various usernames and FT mentioned. Copyright issues aside, I thought it'll be at least polite to ask and mention that approval was sought and given, not just by FT but every name that was mentioned in your site...

But what do I know? I'm not a lawyer... This is just my 2c worth...

http://www.flyertalk.com/help/rules.php

Who owns my post?

For the sake of simplicity, we'd say that we own anything posted on FlyerTalk. Our reasoning is that we have the power to edit or delete any such post if we, representing the community, find it provides more harm than value to FlyerTalk. Also, if a member decides they no longer want to participate in the community, we would find it difficult to go into the database and delete each post an individual had made. Excerpts from posts to FlyerTalk may appear in InsideFlyer magazines, books, or other materials.

This is my opinion too. I remember reading b watson's fascinating and controversial (first class) trip reports. I don't believe the OP's reference is inappropriate at this time, but of course I defer to the FT moderators in this regard.

Before you go off again, did you really want an answer to your initial question?

An answer may have not left room for you to continue, so it was probably all pretext on your part, but I believe JC already answered it. "... b watson was probably the most interesting flyertalk poster in a long time. I thought many may find more information about him interesting ..."

This rang true for me and I am glad JC wrote not only the book but posted a link here to info on it. I find it quite interesting and, of course, sad. I knew b watson as a mere aquaintance having met him at an FT dinner. Unlike bad press would have you believe, that he was constantly an indulgent, opinionated food and wine glutton, he was quiet, humble and reserved that night.

After that dinner, our group called him Black Card because he thought nothing of handing over his Black AMEX card for pictures, just because we asked, so we could show what one looked like for our FT community pictures. He didn't say anything. We, in fact, thought to cover up the number as he didn't seem to notice and didn't say anything.