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From: chuq@plaid.UUCP
Newsgroups: news.software.b
Subject: Re: Copyright status of the netnews software
Message-ID: <13935@sun.uucp>
Date: Tue, 24-Feb-87 11:52:53 EST
Article-I.D.: sun.13935
Posted: Tue Feb 24 11:52:53 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 27-Feb-87 02:01:14 EST
References: <962@osiris.UUCP> <1717@hoptoad.uucp>
Sender: news@sun.uucp
Reply-To: chuq@sun.UUCP (Chuq Von Rospach)
Organization: Fictional Reality, uLtd
Lines: 38

In article <1469@celtics.UUCP> roger@celtics.UUCP (Roger Klorese) writes:
>In article <527@spdcc.COM> dyer@spdcc.COM (Steve Dyer) writes:
>>I can appreciate the use of a copyright to keep netnews freely available;
>>however, there is already precedent for this with the mod.sources cookbook,
>>which is copyrighted by the USENET Community Trust.
>>-- 
>...which I think is a fabrication.  There is NO legal entity either named, 
>or doing business as, the USENET Community Trust, is there?  (No flames - 
>I'm not certain this is true, but I'd be surprised if there is one.)  
>If there is not, the copyright notice is worthless.

I'll let the USENET Community Trust speak for itself, but if you're looking
for a copyright precedent, look no further than OtherRealms, my newsletter
(published, for those that haven't seen it on mod.mag.otherrealms).

It is copyrighted both to protect my interests and the rights of the people
who write for me.  And last I heard, the copyright holder (namely me)
existed.

So far, I've been very happy and stayed the hell out of this ludicrous
discussion, because I've been alternately incredulous and hysterical.  I'm
truly amazed at the number of experts in copyright law and networking we
have out there, especially since few of them have any idea of what they are
talking about.  All I can say is that I'm glad I don't deal with Netnews
administration anymore because if I was Rick, I would have been mortally
offended long ago and told you all to take a flying leap off a short pier.

It is real simple.  It is legal for Rick to Copyright the changes made to
news for 2.11.  If you don't like it, run a public domain version of news,
like 2.10.2.  

If you don't like the way THIS network is run, go start your own.  You're
welcome to it.

chuq
Chuq Von Rospach	chuq@sun.COM		[I don't read flames]

There is no statute of limitations on stupidity