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Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer)
Newsgroups: net.news
Subject: copyright vs. publication
Message-ID: <6371@utzoo.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 6-Feb-86 16:41:53 EST
Article-I.D.: utzoo.6371
Posted: Thu Feb  6 16:41:53 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 6-Feb-86 16:41:53 EST
References: <3273@glacier.UUCP>, <18800010@hpfcla.UUCP>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
Lines: 32

> > Material posted to USENET is the copyright
> > property of the poster under U.S. statute.
> 
> How can that be?  If I post something here, copyright means I have the
> right to control copies.  But the very nature of the Net implies massive
> copying out of my control, and I know that.  So, haven't I given
> implicit privileges to others, merely by posting?

No more than you give such privileges to others by, say, publishing an
article in Scientific American.  By arranging for its publication, you
have consented to the copying inherent in that particular operation.
But you have not given away your control over its copying for other
purposes.

> Let me ask a different way.  At what point has someone who saves my news
> posting committed a copyright violation?  In saving it?  Giving it to a
> friend?  Reposting it with changes?  Where do you draw the line?

At the point where the use being made of the posting is no longer something
which is implicit in the act of posting it, I would guess.  Think of it
as a radio broadcast:  taping it for personal use is probably all right,
copying the tape for a friend is very dubious, rebroadcasting it on your
own radio station is absolutely out, except perhaps for short excerpts
quoted in review and commentary.  There are undoubtedly borderline cases
where it would be hard to judge; copyright law doesn't address things
like electronic bulletin boards very well yet.  The underlying principle
of "thou shalt not shaft the author" is a reasonable guideline.

Beware:  I am not a lawyer.  Consult an expert before doing anything rash.
-- 
				Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
				{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry