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Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!aplcen!samsung!usc!sdsu!crash!canada
From: canada@crash.cts.com (Diane Barlow Close)
Newsgroups: news.admin,news.misc,comp.sys.atari.st,alt.flame
Subject: The Rape of Usenet
Keywords: The wholesale capturing of Usenet by GEnie
Message-ID: <946@crash.cts.com>
Date: 20 Dec 89 17:47:14 GMT
Reply-To: canada@crash.cts.com (Diane Barlow Close)
Followup-To: news.misc
Organization: Crash TimeSharing, El Cajon, CA
Lines: 95

This message was posted by Dave Small to the atari newsgroup, and I have
many objections and some questions I'd like to pose to the net (so as not
to waste net $$ please direct all followups to news.misc or alt.flame):

-> Date: 19 Dec 89 06:00:28 GMT
-> >From: dsmall@well.UUCP (David Small)
-> Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
-> Subject: USENET -> GEnie uplink now working
-> Message-ID: <15097@well.UUCP>
-> 
-> 	It's time to announce that there is now a working uplink
-> from USENET to GEnie. Each note posted into comp.sys.atari.st is sorted
-> by topic, and uploaded to "Category 10" of the Gadgets RT on GEnie.[...]
-> 
-> 	The link is one way. GEnie makes its living selling information
-> bases to the public, and doesn't want them downloaded and distributed freely.
-> [...] I just want to get the maximum freedom of information
-> exchange possible between these networks; [...]

I object to this ONE WAY transfer of information.  Dave talks about the 
*exchange* of information.  This is not an *exchange*, it is a one-way 
transfer of Usenet information.  I object to the rape and plunder 
(*for profit*) of Usenet!  A summary of Usenet, or perhaps ``this is the 
latest from Usenet'' (1 or 2 articles follow), is acceptable. This wholesale 
plunder of Usenet is not.

-> 	I wanted to let you know to prevent invading anyone's privacy.
-> [...] If someone has a real need not to have their notes forwarded to 
-> GEnie, I will be happy to put a "filter" on to prevent it by request; [...]

I think this should be changed to ``only take articles from Usenet if a
person sends Dave his *approval*''.  Why should I have to trust Dave to remove 
my articles?  What if he misses one?  What if my mail can't get through?...

I also object most strenously to Dave limiting MY access to information by
scaring away Usenet posters who don't want the kind of publicity GEnie
offers.  Usenet is supported FREELY by a conglomeration of machines (each
company covering a bit of the expenses) and I object very, very much to
GEnie profiting from other sites' generousity.

-> 	It seems to me like a benefit for everyone involved, especially
-> if/when 2-waymail gets going.

A benefit for *everyone*?  It is only a benefit for *everyone on GEnie*.
Usenet people don't benefit *at all* from this one-way ``exchange'' of
information.

-> [...] other areas on GEnie are
-> expressing great interest in having a USENET uplink. Basically, folks, 
-> USENET is perceived as the place where the people who know what they're
-> doing post notes.

Does this mean that soon *all* Usenet groups are going to be appearing on
GEnie?  I hope we can stop this before it gets out of hand!

-> 	Why do it? Because a long time ago, on the CERL site on PLATO, a
-> person named Sherwin Gooch, ex-PLATO, ex-Atari, and now with Apple, 
-> introduced me to the hacker ethic and freedom of information exchange as
-> its primary goal. (No, not illegal exchange, you know what I mean). [...]

I don't call a one-way exchange ``freedom of information''.  I also don't 
call *free information* being uploaded to a *pay service* ``freedom''.
The hacker ethic is AGAINST the *sale* of information (as GEnie represents).  
If you want a TRUE example of the hacker ethic, then read a bit about 
Richard Stallman and the Free Software Foundation.  *They* represent the 
hacker ethic!

-> 	If anyone feels this is wrong, I'll be more than happy to listen and
-> if convinced, drop the link. [...]

Write Dave Small and voice your objections TODAY, before it's too late and
Usenet becomes GEnie (and you have to pay through the nose for what was
formerly free)!

-> 	Well, enough said. I hope this leads to good things -- GEnie users
-> getting good information on time, for instance.

It's obvious from this sentence who is benefiting from this ``exchange'' of
information -- GEnie and no one else.

The more Usenet becomes publicized, the greater the danger of someone in
political power becoming ``concerned''.  Perhaps concerned enough to pass
legislation like that currenly up for review in New York:  a sysop must
validate each and every *message* that is posted to his BBS and must also
guarantee privacy of the message and guarantee that the message NOT appear
on any other service.  

Is there anything (legal?) that we can do to stop this link?  In general,
are there any ``net rules'' for this type of thing?  Is GEnie in any danger
by uploading Usenet articles wholesale?
-- 
Diane Barlow Close
      {nosc, ucsd}!crash!canada
      canada@crash.cts.com
      Free Canada -- Trade Mulroney