JJB>Popping an article down the net to hundreds of members of Bee-L seems to
   >be the same as making copies for everyone in a class - it can't be done
   >legally without the permission of the holder of the copyright.
 
Everything on the internet is copyrighted today, even this post, and it
is advisable to get permission if you are not the author, but there is
nothing wrong with author's putting their papers on the net and many do.
 
Anyone can abstract and quote parts of articles without permission
and without fear of copyright infringement. Self serving press releases,
promotions, and advertisements which can be copied without much fear of
reprisals, but are also protected as are tax supported and government
publications.
 
To make a copyright infringement case is not easy and almost requires
some form of compensation for the other persons work to you, but is not
limited to that alone. It is true that if all the infringements seen in
an one year were to go to trial the courts would be back logged ten to
twenty years, very few do and most cases are in the "trademark" category
and not the copyright violation as one sees in the internet news groups
and list mail. Even thou these are public they are very limited in
actual circulation and near to being person correspondence between
individuals and groups of individuals as one could get outside of
surface mail. The actual potential for damage is very low and would
preclude most from seeking relief other then asking individuals to stop,
but some will say the law is the law and its better to ask then bee
sorry.
 
Most authors that I have request release from are happy to give it and
I have only had one refuse since 1989 which includes news, art,
scientific reports, and computer programs. The real problem is often
finding the author to get that permission which is time consuming and
sometimes impossible and sometimes enthusiasm overcomes good judgement
and risks are taken in the best interests of information communication.
 
The internet itself is nothing more then a big mirror that technically
infringes on everyone's copyrights and privacy and in time will either
brake down much personal copyrights or see then straightened by new laws.
I suspect it will be the former as I see now way of enforcing much of
the law we have now.<G>
                          ttul the OLd Drone
 
 
(c) Permission is granted to freely copy this document
in any form, or to print for any use.
(w)Opinions are not necessarily facts. Use at own risk.
 
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 ~ QMPro 1.53 ~ What is worth doing is worth the trouble of asking somebo