For the most part, university websites are not the most flattering in the world, nor are academic conference websites. But this one Copyright’s Counterparts is quite nice (and the theme also interesting). Makes me wonder, actually, about how copyrightable the design of a website is. Does anyone know? update: Not sure why my links don’t work on planet 
I will have to figure that out after I get back from Canada.Update again: OUCH, ok there are issues with the website thanks to le flash raised in the comments. But I still think it looks good and I am sure that aesthetic could be transfered using non-flash technology!
August 5, 2008
Nice Website
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Nice? Well, all I get is a big box which wants to install the flash plugin from Adobe. I usually don’t call that a website.
Comment by Ingo Saitz — August 5, 2008 @ 7:13 am
It’s not a website, it’s a flash application. It’s non-localisable, non-searchable, non-accessible. It’s a perfect instance of a website that’s contributing to making the Web unusable.
Comment by martin — August 5, 2008 @ 7:25 am
It’s subject to copyright protection, but the protection is thin, like all copyright in layout and design. Exact copies would infringe, but there is substantial latitude to copy the look and feel of a website you admire. If you really get interested, I can send you some articles.
Oh, and to the extent you’re seeking protection for the code, rather than the actual appearance, you probably know that already!
Comment by greglas — August 5, 2008 @ 8:29 am
Interesting, though I share Martin’s point of view. From a “website as art” point of view, it is kind of neat. From a usability point of view, my first impression was annoyance.
If this is what “Web 2.0″ is bringing us, I weep. Improvement should not synonymous with complicating the buh-jeezus out of things that work nicely. This is almost as bad as websites that have a plethora of images just to give the appearance of rounded corners in tables.
I would love to see this done in a non-flash technology to prove that simple elegance can still win at the end of the day.
Comment by JW — August 5, 2008 @ 8:44 am
Although I usually don’t like flash websites, this one is really nice and even works with the completely free gnash plugin. So at least no need to install non free software to visit it.
This does not really invalidate martins point, though.
Comment by Gaudenz — August 5, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
Aside from all that, the content of the conference looks great, I hope you’ll blog about the presentations, I’d be interested to know what folks say.
Comment by Kim Christen — August 5, 2008 @ 1:09 pm