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Path: utzoo!utgpu!tmsoft!mason
From: mason@tmsoft.UUCP
Newsgroups: news.stargate
Subject: Re: Restrictions on Stargate - what is sold is telecommunications
Message-ID: <128@tmsoft.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Mar-87 13:00:29 EST
Article-I.D.: tmsoft.128
Posted: Wed Mar 18 13:00:29 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 19-Mar-87 05:58:51 EST
References: <103@stargate.UUCP> <301@gaia.UUCP> <759@looking.UUCP>
Reply-To: mason@tmsoft.UUCP (Dave Mason)
Organization: TM Software Associates, Toronto
Lines: 42
Keywords: compilation works, against Stargate restrictions

In article <759@looking.UUCP> brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton) writes:
>This may be an area in which the law is behind the technology.  We should
>examine what *should* be rather than what exists among the out of date
>laws.
>
>What the stargate -- and other satellite folks -- really want to sell
>is *telecommunications*.  They really have not desire to sell or own
>the transmitted materials.
> ...
>It seems perfectly fair that Stargate and the LA customer could enter into
>a contract that says,
>   "I will move the information you request from Atlanta to you, so long as
>   you pay me and don't resell (or give away) this moving."

  I agree with Brad that the service Stargate is selling is telecommunications,
but I disagree that this gives them the moral right to restrict access to (or
distribution of) PD information.
  There are already precedents for selling compilations of PD software.  Groups
like PC SIG, and companies like Workman, have been selling compilation disks
for years.  It serves a purpose, and presumably at least pays for itself.
With these there is NO implication that you cannot pass on the works singly
or as a group to others.
  I can see no reason why stargate should want to restrict this, particularly
as this is a 'volunteer effort' to 'help the USENET community' get 'timely
information'.  Either there are enough companies who are currently paying phone
bills who would rather subscribe to Stargate to get news faster, or there
aren't.   If there are, fine, the whole flow of news will speed up, and be
cheaper overall for the net.  If there aren't, also fine, the satelite
technology just hasn't matured enough for the cost-benefit ratio to exceed that
of long distance phones.
  Why can't the Stargate people look at this as a simple business decision,
rather than get religious about it, and trying to be coercive?  If Stargate
is to be open and Stargate content can be distributed, GREAT, there is a
significant chance my company would subscribe (and get reimbursed for part
of the cost by neighbouring sites).  If it will be closed, I'm sorry to hear
it, and I will probably start including these silly copyright notices, as I
am very concerned about the precedent that would be set for distribution of
intellectual property.
	../Dave
-- 
	../Dave Mason,	TM Software Associates	(Compilers & System Consulting)
	..!{utzoo seismo!mnetor utcsri utgpu lsuc}!tmsoft!mason