Miata Mailing List: November 1993, Message #187
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   From: "Michael Butler" 
Subject: Re: Compuserve and The Digest
   Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1993 14:30:50 -0500

Martin Goodale writes:
>I believe that Compuserve, like Prodigy, charges by the message for Internet
>access. By making the monthly digest available they are in effect saving
>their subscribers money. Like myself, a growing number of people are
>discovering internet through the mail gateways of commercial services. Not
>everyone has the luxury of direct access. My current service has a policy
>against subscribing to lists. I settle for daily digests of this list and
>team.net. I think that Compuserve's move is a positive thing although I wish
>they would use the daily digest. (I might switch then) Ultimately this will
>provide more people access and to the recources we share. Isn't that what
>internet is about?

Although I raised this issue in the context of Compuserve, it's the general
principal I'm concerned with more than the specific instance.  I agree that
the Miata mailing list is a good thing and that the availability of the
digests on Compuserve permits more people to share in the fun.  However,
what I am concerned with is the inappropriate distribution of material
from this mailing list.  Like Ken Warren, I don't want to see my name in
somebody's ad for the newest Miata widget -- "as discussed on the Internet!"

What constitutes inappropriate distribution?  We don't say right now and
that's the problem.  Personally, I feel that *any* re-distribution of material
should require the permission of the author.  Any form of written
expression carries with it an implicit copyright -- even if you don't
explicitly state such.

Perhaps in the case of Compuserve we can give some sort of blanket permission.
Of course, I'm not sure what kind of rights we give away by uploading our
digests to Compuserve (or any BBS).

Michael Butler