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Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer)
Newsgroups: net.news
Subject: Re: Towards making hosts and their admin free from a criminal offence
Message-ID: <6699@utzoo.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 14-May-86 19:41:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: utzoo.6699
Posted: Wed May 14 19:41:33 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 14-May-86 19:41:33 EDT
References: <1234@mulga.OZ>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
Lines: 27

> ... there seems to be a very simple change which should be made
> to postnews, and Pnews to protect administrators, universities etc
> who *might* be considered promulgators and publishers... a question
> like  (maybe different words)
> "Do you accept the fact that if the material in your article is 
> considered illegal in any country which it reaches, it is entirely your
> responsibility, and your undertaking etc ... [y/n]?"
> ...this idea seems good to me - what do you think? ...

Won't work.  After the first few times any given poster sees it, the 'n'
answer will become automatic and thought about the issue will cease.
People who give serious attention to such matters will continue to do so;
people who don't care will continue not to care.  And the warning will
become yet another over-mouthy message polluting one's terminal with
unwanted chatter.

If it really provided any legal protection, it might be worth considering
a trimmed-down version.  But I can't see that it would help.  Whether the
material in the article is entirely the author's responsibility depends
on whether Usenet is a publisher or a common carrier, not on whether the
author signs an acceptance of responsibility.  If Usenet is a publisher,
then the providers of the facilities are responsible for the contents, no
excuses allowed.  Is Usenet a publisher?  Nobody knows; it's a gray area
with no real precedents.  Undoubtedly the answer will vary between countries.
-- 
Join STRAW: the Society To	Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
Revile Ada Wholeheartedly	{allegra,ihnp4,decvax,pyramid}!utzoo!henry