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From: lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein)
Newsgroups: net.news.stargate
Subject: Re: Printer and publishers: a proposal for monitoring
Message-ID: <542@vortex.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 4-Feb-85 17:52:15 EST
Article-I.D.: vortex.542
Posted: Mon Feb  4 17:52:15 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 6-Feb-85 05:19:38 EST
References: <218@chalmers.UUCP>
Organization: Vortex Technology, Los Angeles
Lines: 29

It seems likely that the more people that have to sign something, the
less likely we are to get people to participate.  For example,
I write for a national magazine.  I wasn't forced to sign a document
taking resposibility for anything of mine that they might publish
that might cause a problem.  I would probably refuse to sign such
a statement, since I don't have any final control over what they
publish.  Since they are the publishers, I assume that they will
take the responsibility for what they decide is appropriate
to print.  I doubt very much if very many people would be willing
to accept personal legal responsibility for material they moderate
in an actual service.  I also have a suspicion that if push came
to shove, the provider of the service would still be held responsible,
on the grounds that a "only the moderators have responsibility"
system is an irresponsible transfer of control over the medium.  I'm just
speculating on this last point, of course.

I just don't think too many individuals, many without lawyers to
consult easily, would be willing to accept personal responsibility.

--Lauren--

P.S.  It should be kept in mind at all times that there is no
      "information monopoly" involved in all of this.  People
      are free to continue using whatever other mediums they
      see fit to pass around information.  A stargate-type
      service would simply be another avenue from which people
      could choose to accept information if they so desired.
	
--LW--