[837] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: Software Sales via e-mail
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Lyle Seaman)
Fri Jun 14 20:34:43 1991
From: lws@capybara.comm.wang.com (Lyle Seaman)
To: com-priv@psi.com, dcm@teal.csn.org, jqj@duff.uoregon.edu
Cc: lws@capybara.comm.wang.com
Date: Fri, 14 Jun 91 20:12:57 EDT
dcm writes:
>
> >Nah, you probably aren't wrong. But the NSFNet guidelines are so loose
> >that Xcaret could quite legitimately argue that they are not doing
> >anything wrong.
> >
> >You are in a situation (as a regional) where it is rational to interpret
> >the guidelines strictly as long as you aren't trying to sell a new
> >membership.
> >
> >Actually, I think the original complaint was unclear. Were they
> >complaining about the advertising, or about the suggestion that people
> >send orders by email?
>
>Hmm, interesting point. Here it is again:
>
> NetFind is sold with a single user license for $159. Please call for
> educational discounts and site licensing. You may order by phone, e-
> mail or postal mail (include P.O. number, check or credit card).
>
>Lyle, is this what you were referring to?
>WESTNET, ruling please!
I wasn't complaining a bit. I think that real commercial uses of public
networks are long overdue, though I can't deny that it might conflict with
the NSFNet policy...
The part that I found intriguing was the next paragraph, which suggested
that the product could be shipped in the following formats:
"electronic, floppy, or cartridge tape"
Now, electronic suggests (to me) that they intended to send out the software
over the net...
Taking orders and advertising via e-mail is old hat, but I've been waiting
for somebody to actually deliver product that way.
Lyle Wang lws@capybara.comm.wang.com
508 967 2322 Lowell, MA, USA .sig out of order
