On smaller list of list owners, we've been having a discussion about
some companies which do their own list archiving.  For the most part,
the companies that do this have been polite and asked permission first.
However, some list owners have declined, saying that the posts are
copyrighted material of the posters.
 
This has generated the the major part of the discussion.  It seems clear
that posts to private, closed and/or confidential lists could very well
be copyright material of the poster.  But I do not believe that posts
to public lists (my definition:  Subscribe= Open), can be held to be
copyrightable.  Statements made in such a forum more closely resemble
street corner proclimations (which anyone that wants can tape and
rebroadcast at will - just ask any politian!).
 
 
My question is:  what, legally, is the right answer here?
 
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Chris Barnes                                 (409) 846-3273 (home)
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http://helper.tamu.edu/STAFF/cbarnes/