On 2 May 2002 Michael McNeil wrote:

> Simply put, then, Yahoo is in effect stating that by making access to your
> posts, archives, etc., public, you are granting them license to use,
> dissimilar in effect, but not the process of putting something into the
> public domain?

A license for one entity to use the material for something they want to do
with something you write is dramatically and fundamentally different from
a release to the public domain.

In addition Yahoo restricts the license to use of the material to "promote
or provide" the specific group where it was posted, and also states that
if you remove the material they no longer have the license.  It is
relatively carefully restricted -- not a broad license at all.

-----
Tom Rawson           [log in to unmask]