It could be argued with the advent of new data protection laws that protect
a mailing until it reaches it intended recipient from any form of tampering,
that the actual act of moderating a list might constitute an infringement.
Mind you this is only UK law that is being changed so the rest of the world
might be alright
Duncan

-----Original Message-----
From: Winship [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 11 August 2000 05:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Liability of listowner / libel

<snip>

Peter Graham's question is very interesting to me in that today I got
an item for approval for one list which I am still sitting on (among all
the other disasters of today (less said 'bout that the better)).  I'm
sitting on it as the person is clearly looking for support for a job
classification/wage suit.  That is a fight I do not want to  to get into,
has nothing to do with what the list is for, only connection being he
works for a library.  He is not a subscriber and his attempted posting
had to be relayed as he sent it to an old address we have not used for,
oh, at least six years.

Way I look at is, if I approve this item, I make myself, my coowner for
the list, the list, the list's host site and anyone who replies to the
posting potentialy liable to a supoena from one side or the other in this
suit, perhaps there may be criminal liability if it turns nasty, I don't
know.  Then again, maybe this guy will sue me if I don't approve his
posting (he got the notice saying it had been routed to me for approval).
So, I'm still sitting on it while pondering.

Any gems of wisdom out there on this?         Douglas