Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!wasatch!cetron
From: cetron@wasatch.utah.edu (Edward J Cetron)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec
Subject: Re: "UNWELCOME.TXT" - a better WELCOME message (and dynamic!)
Message-ID: <2038@wasatch.utah.edu>
Date: 18 Jun 89 18:18:23 GMT
References: <452@marque.mu.edu> <2270@faline.bellcore.com> <224@shodha.dec.com> <7773@bsu-cs.bsu.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Morrison-Knudsen, Industrial Buildings Division, SLC, UT
Lines: 26

In article (Christopher Chiesa) writes:
>In article <224@shodha.dec.com>, devine@shodha.dec.com (Bob Devine) writes:
>> In article <452@marque.mu.edu> kcb@marque.UUCP (Kent Brodie) writes:
>> > precious system, the existance of this message can cause ALL SORTS of
>> > legal headaches, depending on your state/local laws.
>> 
>>   NOTE: There has been no legal finding that having a welcome message
>> constitutes an invitation to system cracking.  
>
>Hmmm... That's odd...  one of the VERY FIRST messages a friend of mine ever
>.....
>Does someone have a *definitive*, documented-on-official-paper answer as to 
>whether this is TRUE or just RUMOR?

	Both John Covert (of DEC) and I did some very serious searching for 
any real legal precedents;  we found none.  The federal judge story is, as near
as we can tell, pure urban myth.

HOWEVER, Given the totally bizarre and murky status of the legal standing in 
this area, it is quite wise to make any relatively simple changes of this sort.
Better to err safe than not.

Thanks Kent...

-ed
cetron@wasatch.utah.edu