On 02:27 AM 4/26/01, Norbert Bollow wrote:
>Hmm... there is another one: Before you redistribute something
>that I have written, I would expect that you at least try to
>check with me first.
When you send something to a list, who is "you" (above)? The list has a
list owner, but the owner is has no control over the (responsible or
irresponsible) actions of the individual list subscribers. When you send a
post to the list, you send it to an address controlled by the list
owner. But then it gets redistributed, usually to many many people you Do
Not Know. While you may *desire* that those people contact you before
redistributing your writings, In The Real World it is unrealistic to
*expect* them to always contact you.
Once you have posted something in a public forum like a mailing list or
newsgroup, you effectively lose control over redistribution, even though
you do not lose the *right to control* your writings.
It is much like leaving a personal item on your front lawn. It is yours,
if anyone else takes it they are breaking the law, and even if they have
your item in their possession, you *still* own it. But it is still
unrealistic to just *expect* that it will remain on your lawn, untouched,
untaken.
jc
