Re: 6/1/98: Sacremento Bee article on Human Bar Codes

["'A. Joseph Ross'" <lawyer@world.std.com>]

On Wed, 3 Jun 1998, Stephen R. Low wrote:

> I, for one, do not understand the basis for throwing anyone off this list
> for transmitting copyrighted material--intentional or not. Is the list
> operator legally liable for transmitting messages over which he/you have no
> control? If so, wouldn't every node on the internet, through which this
> material passed, also be liable? I'm not a lawyer, but it seems to me that
> the greatest risk for transmitting copyrighted material is incurred by the
> originator of the message.

A couple of years ago, a BBS owner was indicted in Federal Court for
permitting his BBS to be used regularly to distribute copyrighted
software.  I don't remember the outcome, or whether there was one as yet,
but a federal indictment generally ruins your day.

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