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Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer)
Newsgroups: news.software.b
Subject: Re: Public Domain Netnews...
Message-ID: <7684@utzoo.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 21-Feb-87 22:12:26 EST
Article-I.D.: utzoo.7684
Posted: Sat Feb 21 22:12:26 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Feb-87 22:12:26 EST
References: <1312@hplabsc.UUCP> <4169@sdcrdcf.UUCP>, <1320@hplabsc.UUCP>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
Lines: 55
Keywords: C news, copyright

Disclaimer:  I haven't spoken to Geoff about the details of this, but I
think the C-news team speaks with pretty much one mind on these issues.

> Up until now all versions of netnews have been without copyright and
> this has caused a number of mutants to spin off, including the about
> to be released C News, and the (rumoured) Teenage Mutant Ninja Netnews...

I can't speak for the TMNN crew, but C news is *not* a mutant of B news.
It is a rewrite, from scratch.

> When a copyrighted system is to be distributed, the distributor is
> bound *by law* to have written permission by the holder(s) of the
> copyright...

Please cite chapter and verse on this.  I think you'll find that it's not
that simple; written permission is normal because it's very useful if a
disagreement arises later, but verbal contracts are just as binding as
written ones.  In any case, I don't believe the issue comes up when the
copyright notice itself explicitly authorizes distribution.

> But there aren't news transport programs other than 2.11.  At least,
> not until C News comes out.  (and I fervently hope that it isn't copy-
> righted)...

Barring major changes of mind, C news *will* be copyrighted, with a copyright
notice similar to the ones we've used in the past:  one that explicitly
permits all manner of redistribution (including for-profit, since we have no
religious objections to free enterprise) provided that credit is given.

Our general position is that we have no objection to our stuff being used
or redistributed, but we don't want ripoff artists claiming it for their
own, and we most particularly don't want them introducing their own bugs
and then having the victims blame the mess on us.  These are *not* silly
concerns.  We *have* had our work used without credit, we *have* had it
claimed by others, we *have* had other people's bugs blamed on us.  We do
not like any of this, and want to stop it (or at least reduce it).  We think
that almost anyone who seriously tries public-domain software distribution
will feel the same way after a while.

> If C News *is* copyrighted, I will most certainly find a group of
> fellow-"hotheads" and we will most certainly spawn a new version of
> netnews.  Probably one that will blow 2.11 out of the water.

Heh, heh.  Rotsa ruck.  You'll find that it's a whole lot of work, much more
than you think.  You may find it difficult to sustain the necessary enthusiasm
over the difference between "use freely provided credit is given", and "use
freely".  You may also find it difficult to get people to adopt your stuff
unless it offers other major advantages over the alternatives.  Beating 2.11
is probably not that hard for anyone who starts from scratch and pays some
attention to avoiding old mistakes, but 2.11 won't be your real competition
by the time you get around to production release (which will take longer than
you think).
-- 
Legalize			Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
freedom!			{allegra,ihnp4,decvax,pyramid}!utzoo!henry