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Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!columbia!tom.columbia.edu!metzger
From: metzger@tom.columbia.edu (Perry Metzger)
Newsgroups: news.stargate
Subject: Re: Restrictions on Stargate
Message-ID: <4470@columbia.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 16-Mar-87 21:05:23 EST
Article-I.D.: columbia.4470
Posted: Mon Mar 16 21:05:23 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 17-Mar-87 04:42:23 EST
References: <103@stargate.UUCP> <998@rpics.RPI.EDU>
Sender: nobody@columbia.UUCP
Reply-To: metzger@tom.columbia.edu.UUCP (Perry Metzger)
Organization: Columbia University CS Department
Lines: 46


In article <998@rpics.RPI.EDU> yerazuws@rpics.RPI.EDU (Crah) writes:
>In article <103@stargate.UUCP>, stargate@Stargate.COM writes:
>> As we've stated in the past, we want to be reasonable about pass-through
>> of information transmitted via Stargate.  But there really is no free
>> lunch!
>I fully appreciate that you *must* pay for your resources, but you are
>ignoring a very important point-
>	I (not Stargate) am the author of my postings.  Some of these
>	postings are (at least) mildly useful to others.  I have no
>	objection to you redistributing my postings- BUT YOU SHALL NOT
>	CLAIM ANY EXCLUSIVITY OR OTHER RESTRICTION ON THEM.  I haven't
>	entered into any authorship/publishing arrangement with you, and
>	I'll thank you not to claim my work as yours.
...
>I really *do* hope Stargate works.  I just don't want them (or anyone
>else) stealing any intellectual property.
>
>Remember, my .signature file doesn't say you can't send it over Stargate,
>it just says Stargate can't keep you from sending it to 
>someone else, too.

First of all, although collections of public domain articles can be
copyrighted as a derivative work, they cannot claim the part that is
sent over the rest of the net if it is sent without any proprietary
stargate information. Why? Because the information has appeared
elsewhere, and you cant copyright a public domain work (at least not
successfully) only derivatives of public domain works.

Also, if you copyright your net articles in the manner described, they
cannot be redistributed in a restricted manner by stargate as a
copyright entitles you to rights in derivative works as well.

Personally, I do not want the precedent of a restricted set of
stargate copyrighted information around. Although stargate may be
benevolent, it may inspire more draconian operations, and even if its
intentions are good it is still restricting the flow of network
information.

Thus the notice on the bottom of this message.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer; what I say may be subtly flawed.

Perry Metzger

Copyright 1987 by Perry Metzger. Restrictions on Redistribution PROOO