Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!looking!brad
From: brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton)
Newsgroups: news.misc
Subject: Re: Yes, I can sell a jokebook via USENET.
Message-ID: <2416@looking.UUCP>
Date: 30 Nov 88 06:40:07 GMT
References: <2391@looking.UUCP> <79090@sun.uucp> <5322@polya.Stanford.EDU>
Reply-To: brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton)
Organization: Looking Glass Software Ltd.
Lines: 16

While I responded to Chuq (an old member of the anti-me bandwagon) via
private mail, I had better clear up some more misconceptions I have
seen in followups.

a) Because it's on the net doesn't mean it's public domain.  It means
it's been sent to unlimited distribution to the "net."  I can still be
owned, and in many cases it is.   Currently the book is really only being
sold to net folks.

b) Many net postings (particularly rec.humor postings) are public domain
simply because they were before they were posted.

c) A collection of PD work collected by one person is *not* public domain.
The elements are still PD, but only the collector may publish the collection.
-- 
Brad Templeton, Looking Glass Software Ltd.  --  Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473