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From: wayne@fmsrl7.UUCP
Newsgroups: news.software.b
Subject: Re: Public Domain Netnews...
Message-ID: <806@fmsrl7.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 20-Feb-87 18:55:12 EST
Article-I.D.: fmsrl7.806
Posted: Fri Feb 20 18:55:12 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Feb-87 20:06:38 EST
References: <1312@hplabsc.UUCP> <4169@sdcrdcf.UUCP> <1320@hplabsc.UUCP>
Reply-To: wayne@fmsrl7.UUCP (Michael R. Wayne)
Distribution: world
Organization: Ford Motor Company, Scientific Research Labs, Dearborn, MI
Lines: 42


	All this discussion about public domain news made me think of a few
things I would LOVE to see in future releases.  These include:

	1)  A way to store the news in compressed form where rn (or whatever)
would uncompress on the fly for display purposes.  This would help a LOT for
those of us with limited disk space.  Also, for smaller machines that
forward news, it would be less CPU time (decompress-store-compress-send
turns into store-send)
	2)  A means to use your own pager with rn.  It gets real tiring to
hit u (as in less) to back up and suddenly realize you just unsubscribed to
the silly group.  Also, my machine doesn't trap ^B, it core dumps.
	3)  An automated mechanism for expire.  Something that detected that
no-one on the machine reads a given group so expire it in <parameter> days.
	4)  More user control.  I keep seeing messages like "I can't do xxx
and my system adminstrator won't help me".

	As far as copyright notices, would it be better to license the
software?  Something like:

	To use this software you must return this (electronic) form.
	(I think that for a licence to be valid, something must change
	hands.  Also, this would give the net a method to track new
	machines).  By returning said form, you agree not to sell this
	work or any derivative work nor to permit it to ever be sold.
	Furthermore, you agree to provide access to this work to other
	interested parties at no charge (handling or otherwise).  You
	need not supply a copy for no charge, merely access to the
	work.  (Something about modifications being OK but original
	notice must remain would be reasonable).  Once the form has
	been received by <wherever>, this license is valid for a period
	of 99 years (I think you need dates to make stuff legal and no
	one is going to use 99 year old software anyway).  This license
	may only be revoked if you violate this agreement.

comments?
-- 
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Michael R. Wayne    (313) 322-3986     UUCP: {epsilon|ihnp4}!mb2c!fmsrl7!wayne
Working at (but not employed by) Ford Motor Company  ** This space for rent **
Since I am an independent consultant, the above opinions ARE my employers.
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