Hello Malcolm,

>> I ask you to make a ruling on the arguement on Copyright whenever
it NP> is
> on fidonews

> International copyright law is a complex subject and one on which I am not
>qualified to make any ruling on. If someone wants to take up the issue with an
> expert in international law and get a ruling then they are free to do so. I
> would be happy to provide any background to them. I am sure such legal advice
> would not come cheaply.

> Nobody is being deprived of income or disadvantaged in any way due to the
> publication of Fidonews in various media outside the traditional BBS so it is
> all just pointless talk and bluster.

> If I was the Fidonews editor I would make it a condition of publication that
>the author agreed that any articles submitted could be published in Fidonews i
> any media. Authors would still hold the copyright to
> publication of their articles outside of Fidonews.

Shannon Talley has posted this recently to Michiel, so I think it certainly
covers things:

> As you are aware I retained asked my attorney on retainer last year and
> asked "if" there was any merit to the case after you
complained to my ISP
> that I was providing copies of Fidonews on my BBS (like most other SYSOPS
> and as per the P4 requirement as the Net coordinator and now Regional
>Coordinator).  The legal entities at the ISP & my law firm were
satisfied that
> I
> was not violating your copyright in both US & Dutch Law.  Both of
these legal
> entities ARE experts in copyright law as they have to deal with these
> international issues frequently.

I think that says it all.  Michiel knows this since it was in a message
directed to him here recently, and I'm sure also in the past.  Shannon paid
for this, and if anyone has incurred cost over this situation, it is
Shannon. Imagine the annoyance if Shannon had to pay for this service
-again-.

Take care,
Janis

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