[188] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: There are no unrestricted networks.
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Martin Lee Schoffstall)
Tue Dec 18 00:41:43 1990
To: lear@turbo.bio.net (Eliot)
Cc: com-priv@psi.com, mnemonic@eff.org
In-Reply-To: Your message of Mon, 17 Dec 90 17:46:31 -0800.
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 90 00:23:56 -0500
From: "Martin Lee Schoffstall" <schoff@psi.com>
Fine. I'll forward a copy to com-priv.
>The motivation here is to cover the legalities of the NetNews provision
>which is looked upon as an information service. If someone is patentedly
>violating the law of copyright, obscenity, etc.. we need a way to stop
>providing service, otherwise we are liable.
I'm not a lawyer, but I've kept very close track of this particular
issue. Is it that you are trying to police your systems? If you do
police your systems, are you not opening yourselves up for more
liability, rather than less? Do you view yourselves as enhanced
service providers?
No, I'm pointedly not policing the system; however, I've reserved
the right to do that in the future if I have to.
Basically, given the current state of the laws (as we understand them)
and how they are being enforced (badly) care must be taken to lay
appropriate foundations. I'd prefer things to be different but
this is going to take time.
Marty
