Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!ficc!cliff
From: cliff@ficc.uu.net (cliff click)
Newsgroups: news.misc
Subject: Re: IN MODERATION NETWORK
Message-ID: <4576@ficc.uu.net>
Date: 15 Jun 89 20:38:53 GMT
References: <1097@fernwood.MPK.CA.US> <1989Jun6.111130.20332@ateng.ateng.com> <1989Jun14.172942.23300@ateng.com>
Organization: Ferranti International Controls
Lines: 33

In article <1989Jun14.172942.23300@ateng.com>, chip@ateng.com (Chip Salzenberg) writes:
> Further, in my opinion, the only way IMN will make money is to limit its
> customers from redistributing articles received via IMN.  I do not believe
> that IMN can legally restrict redistribution of articles which are
> copyrighted by others!

I agree; however if others pay IMN for this service that's their business.
In other words, I can pay IMN for a better feed, but IMN can't stop me
from sending this feed out to my friends - because IMN can't copyright
this feed.  However, IMN can refuse to sell me this feed unless I agree
to NOT give this feed to my friends.  I can always refuse to do business 
with IMN, but if I want the feed I have to get it from IMN, or somebody
that's breaking their contract with IMN.

I would futher hazard that IMN cannot hack the "contents" of an article
(removing the gratuitous flame, leaving the meat) because of the risks
of presenting the author out of context, and thus libeling (slandering?)
him.  If this argument is carried out ad absurdo (sic) then IMN cannot
present an authors article without presenting all the articles he was
responding too - IMN can't present me saying "That's silly" without also
presenting the rest of the "conversation".

> IMN is Evil and Rude and possibly illegal.  I say:  Boycott IMN.

I say the legalities of IMN are *very* questionable, and laysuits could
run around for years - worse these lawsuits could point out the basic
fallicy of trying to copyright *anything* anybody says - buts another
can of worms.

-- 
Cliff Click, Software Contractor at Large
Business: uunet.uu.net!ficc!cliff, cliff@ficc.uu.net, +1 713 274 5368 (w).
Disclaimer: lost in the vortices of nilspace...       +1 713 568 3460 (h).