Downloads Section??

[Trent Rock]

I would like to suggest having a DOWNLOADS section
Users can upload documents (.pdf and .doc, for example) for all to share
Catalogs, patents, user guides, how to books,charts,etc. could be uploaded and provide valuable resources for all

The forum I am on that has the download section is using :
vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
You can only view and download the documents after you login

You could make it available to paid members only if you wanted
One more "product"/feature to attract potential paying customers to The BF Experience..IMHO

I see BF is running vBulletin® Version 3.8.6

 

[knarfeng]

I'd be concerned about copyright issues.

 

[Trent Rock]

I'd be concerned about copyright issues.

I wouldn't

The Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act (OCILLA) is United States federal law that creates a conditional safe harbor for online service providers (OSPs, including Internet service providers) and other Internet intermediaries by shielding them for their own acts of direct copyright infringement (when they make unauthorized copies) as well as shielding them from potential secondary liability for the infringing acts of others. OCILLA was passed as a part of the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and is sometimes referred to as the "Safe Harbor" provision or as "DMCA 512" because it added Section 512 to Title 17 of the United States Code. By exempting Internet intermediaries from copyright infringement liability provided they follow certain rules, OCILLA attempts to strike a balance between the competing interests of copyright owners and digital users.

Internet intermediaries used to be understood primarily in terms of internet service providers (ISPs), however, internet intermediaries are now also understood to be internet portals, software and games providers, those providing virtual information such as interactive forums and comment facilities with or without a moderation system, aggregators, universities, libraries and archives, web search engines, chat rooms, web blogs, mailing lists, and any website which provides access to third party content through, for example, hyperlinks. Questions of liability have emerged in relation to internet communications infrastructure intermediaries other than ISPs, including internet backbone providers, cable companies and mobile communications providers.[16]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_Copyright_Infringement_Liability_Limitation_Act

http://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/bitstream/1842/2305/1/wipo-onlineintermediaries.pdf

Just need some disclaimer /terms of condition box where you have to check "I Accept"

Let me rephrase:
I, personally would worry
Spark,OSKS and Bladeforums Inc. should not

I'm no attorney..BTW