From my point of view, this isn't about the legal issues (which there 
may be some of; I'm no expert).  The problem with the case posed here 
(which I agree is a poser) for me is that once I've agreed to edit the 
archive I'm now responsible for everything on it -- I chose not to 
edit, or to edit. And I don't mean legally responsible (again, I don't 
know about that, and I expect it's a horrible snarl): what I mean is 
that now I'm open to making decision after decision about attemptng to 
alter the past. That way lies madness.

Also, I think that it can be argued that once that personal 
information's been posted on a public list, it's no longer actually 
retrievable, because of the likelihood that others have retained 
copies in their mailboxes, or, even leaving that aside, the existence 
of the Wayback Machine.

My view remains: I don't edit the archive.

-- Russ


Russell Hunt
Department of English
St. Thomas University
http://www.stu.ca/~hunt/