-> At 08:54 AM 12/14/96 -0500, Steve Barber wrote:
-> >But those list owners who seem shocked that someone would have the
-> >audacity to archive the contents of a mailing list whose subscriptions
-> >are open to all are living in some fantasy world of their own
-> >devising.
-> It's not a copyright issue for many of us. It's a rudeness issue.
-> Many of us run our mailing list as a club, with one of the rules
-> being it is inappropriate to betray confidences by sharing posts.
I totally agree with the rudeness issue 100%. However, as Steve just
pointed out, the latest thread in these discussions has been over
*copyright* concerns. As one who holds a patent and several copyrights
(for works in print AND in software), let me tell you: he's right.
Anyone who has actually investigated copyright issues, or who has
fought off threats, or better yet, anyone who has visited the lawyers
for an explanation, can tell the ignorant from the enlightened. The
ignorant are those who assume that putting a copyright notice on a
posting or an E-mail makes it "safe" and "theirs" and implies some sort
of magic protection which others must obey.
The enlightened are those who relax and make reasonable efforts to
ensure their interests are protected, but NOT by cluttering up
everything they do with copyright notices. It's laughable sometimes, but
then I remember when *I* was ignorant and presumptive, and I shrug.
Personally, I haven't made up my mind on the archive/spider issues, but
I'm content to let them crawl around as long as I don't find my
subscriber's privacy and/or content being compromised. With or without
the copyright. No one likes to be caught standing naked the street...
Cheers,
bruce
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