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From: levy@ttrdc.UUCP (Daniel R. Levy)
Newsgroups: net.legal
Subject: Re: copyrights to letters (registered mail)
Message-ID: <739@ttrdc.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Feb-86 19:01:03 EST
Article-I.D.: ttrdc.739
Posted: Fri Feb 14 19:01:03 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 16-Feb-86 04:21:57 EST
References: <256@bambi.UUCP> <385@ccivax.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T, Computer Systems Division, Skokie, IL
Lines: 34

***REPLACE THIS LINE WITH THE POST OFFICE***

In article <385@ccivax.UUCP>, rb@ccivax.UUCP (rex ballard) writes:
>Often REGISTERED MAIL is used to secure a copyright.  In this case,
>Each Item/Attachment is marked or stamped by the postal clerk.  Normally
>Copyright notice should be included in this mailing.  This package is
>sent to yourself and kept on file.

I have a related question (actually about Registered Mail, not about
Copyrights).  I can see how this method serves as a good proof of copyright,
since the author keeps the registered mail.

But can someone tell me--if you use Registered Mail to send an item to
SOMEONE ELSE, how do you go about proving the CONTENTS of the mailing,
should the recipient conveniently "lose" the mailing?  That is, if John Doe
serves some notice on Richard Roe this way for legal purposes, and Mr. Roe
conveniently "loses" the letter, Mr. Doe can prove that he sent SOMETHING,
but not necessarily prove the precise CONTENTS.  Or have I missed something?
I have never sent any Registered Mail so I might find out by asking the
local post office, but it seems unless there is some way that the postal
clerk can certify a copy of the contents (which John Doe would keep) as
being identical to what was actually sent, that Registered Mail would only
prove that John Doe sent SOMETHING to Richard Roe but not WHAT was sent
(except for a general description of the contents, maybe?).

If someone can clear up this for me, I thank them much.
-- 
 -------------------------------    Disclaimer:  The views contained herein are
|       dan levy | yvel nad      |  my own and are not at all those of my em-
|         an engihacker @        |  ployer or the administrator of any computer
| at&t computer systems division |  upon which I may hack.
|        skokie, illinois        |
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