Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!watmath!att!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!apple!sun-barr!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!algor2.algorists.com!jeffrey
From: jeffrey@algor2.algorists.com (Jeffrey Kegler)
Newsgroups: news.admin
Subject: Re: UUCP Maps Used For Commerce
Message-ID: <1989Sep21.220406.14140@algor2.algorists.com>
Date: 21 Sep 89 22:04:06 GMT
References: <10017@ucsd.Edu> <3833@itivax.iti.org>
Reply-To: jeffrey@algor2.UUCP (Jeffrey Kegler)
Organization: Algorists, Inc.
Lines: 29

Brian Kantor writes:
>
>Even assuming that the maps were copyrighted, in what way do you think
>that prevents someone from using them to make a mailing list?  Or do you
>think that a using the names in the mailing list is in some way
>republishing the maps?

It is not clear to me that mailing lists can be copyrighted.
Copyrights are for original works, and there is nothing original, even
in the compilation, of the UUCP map addresses.

Since we do not have a case of patentable material either, this leaves
only trade secret protection.  Unfortunately, you have to go to some
lengths to keep data you call trade secret from falling into the wrong
hands, and the UUCP maps almost certainly fail this test.

I suspect the UUCP maps are fair game for abuse, legally, much as I
regret that.  The only real defense I could see would be a
non-disclosure agreement.

And of course, all these problems do not include any of the very real
obstacles to enforcing whatever legal protections we do have.


-- 

Jeffrey Kegler, Independent UNIX Consultant, Algorists, Inc.
jeffrey@algor2.ALGORISTS.COM or uunet!algor2!jeffrey
1762 Wainwright DR, Reston VA 22090