Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!gatech!bloom-beacon!think!ames!ptsfa!hoptoad!academ!killer!tsp From: tsp@killer.UUCP (Tom Poindexter) Newsgroups: comp.os.minix,misc.legal,comp.emacs Subject: Re: Free software and Usenet articles on CompuServe Message-ID: <1133@killer.UUCP> Date: Tue, 14-Jul-87 12:42:41 EDT Article-I.D.: killer.1133 Posted: Tue Jul 14 12:42:41 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 19-Jul-87 06:45:04 EDT References: <1511@botter.cs.vu.nl> <323@rabbit1.UUCP> <13150@topaz.rutgers.edu> <3529@well.UUCP> Organization: The Unix(tm) Connection, Dallas, Texas Lines: 64 Summary: What a CompuServe sysop says Xref: mnetor comp.os.minix:1252 misc.legal:2181 comp.emacs:1455 In article <3529@well.UUCP>, johnl@well.UUCP (John A. Limpert) writes: > All of the MINIX files on Compuserve have been removed from the public > access file area on the IBM PC forum. These files were abstracted from > articles on comp.os.minix by Tom Poindexter. I believe the files were > removed due to questions about copyright and redistribution. Compuserve > has this strange notion that anything uploaded to their system cannot > be downloaded and redistributed. I find it hard to believe that they > have any legal right to impose conditions on the redistribution of > material that is in the public domain or copyrighted by third parties. Please let me share a note that I received from the IBM Net forums sysop, Don Watkins. I hope this will clear up the matter, and we can now focus discussion in this news group to more worthy subjects. Tom Poindexter ihnp4!killer!tsp 76117,1453 ------message follows------- #: 113664 (P) S10/SysOp Business (S) 10-Jul-87 08:19:09 Sb: MINIX files Fm: SysOp Don Watkins 76703,750 To: Tom Poindexter 76117,1453 (X) Tom - Thanks, but please allow me to clarify the policy on redistribution. There is no claim of copyright on individual files, those belong to the author, period. On items with no copyright there is no claim either. There is a "compilation copyright" on the whole shebang. In other words if you did a BRO *.*, printed it and offered the programs FOR SALE!! CS would probably write you a letter. The users agreement specifically precludes the resale of downloaded files. Between you and me this is probably unenforcable and PC-SIG and a thousand others do it routinely. There is NO restriction on further distribution by CS. This is a matter between the user and the holder of the copyright. If there's no restriction on the redistribution by the author, then it's your's to do with what you will. This is explained in far more detail and far better than I can do in the "rules of operation". I hope you'll take a minute and GO COPYRIGHT and see the area. At one period it was free, I don't know if it still is. Parenthetically it's funny, there is a great deal of misunderstanding about the CS copyright, which, in general, I feel is a reasonable attempt at dealing with the copyright of files in a forum as well as diverse services like Grolier's, OAG, PaperChase, etc. and that of XXXXX, which claims that by virtue of the free upload you have been "paid" for the file and it then becomes the exclusive property of XXXXX and they hold worldwide distribution rights to it. Bottom line; there is no claim of copyright to the Minix files, period. After downloading they may be freely distributed in accordance with the wishes of the author(s), if any. Thanks again for your hard work and understanding, I know your motives, as were mine, were to simply get the files out to as many interested users and the bulletin board network as possible. Please feel free to publically use this message as you wish, tho I would appreciate it if you would delete the reference to XXXXX. I don't think it's my place to explain their copyright, and quite frankly it not only looks like a cheap shot on my part, but it IS a cheap shot on my part. Don