Xref: utzoo alt.privacy:7 comp.org.eff.talk:1795 Path: utzoo!utgpu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!kudla From: kudla@rpi.edu (Robert J. Kudla) Newsgroups: alt.privacy,comp.org.eff.talk Subject: Re: Telephone Caller ID's Message-ID: Date: 29 Mar 91 17:16:12 GMT References: <13801@asylum.SF.CA.US> <1991Mar29.154847.16915@engin.umich.edu> Organization: just say no! Lines: 35 In-Reply-To: chymes@uri.csmil.umich.edu's message of Fri, 29 Mar 1991 15:48:47 GMT Nntp-Posting-Host: nuge105.its.rpi.edu In article <1991Mar29.154847.16915@engin.umich.edu> chymes@uri.csmil.umich.edu (Charles Hymes) writes: For privacy reasons I am against this caller ID service, but one leagal/commercial point that is largely overlooked is that the phone company is allowing your telephone to be used for someone elses commercial purposes, without your consent or control. Given that this information has commercial worth, I belive that one can argue that phone company is depriving the caller of rightful income, and can be sued for. Oh no, say it isn't so! I better sue my cable company now, for they are using my television (or at least, allowing my television to be used) for someone else's commercial purposes! Without my consent and control, even. I wonder what it takes to declare personal information as "property" I know celberaties can do so for thier voices and likenesses, but I would like to be able to do so for my name, address, and personal data, and say "This information is the (property,copyright etc) of bla bla and may not be reproduced or recorded in any media for commercial purposes without the express written consent of bla bla." What a nice world.... every usenet article I read and every face-to-face conversation I enter into gets another copyright notice on it. Well, the lawyers will enjoy it..... Let's see..... I wanna give my friend Matt a call. 555-2368. Oh, he's not home, but here's his answering machine..... "Hi, I'm not home right now, and you've reached 555-2368. This information is the express personal property of Matthew Womer and may not be repeated, recorded or otherwise used in any way shape or form. Thank you very much, have a nice day, and leave a message at the sound of the tone...."