[lug] Question on allowable posts to BLUG

[Jonathan]

On Fri, 19 Dec 2003, Kenneth D. Weinert wrote:

> I do have a question, however: what is the status of emails on the
> list? I just wonder if the responses here could be used in some sort
> of campaign of Microsoft's to cast Linux users in a bad light? Are
> postings to this list freely usable elsewhere?

The poster retains copyright, in general this means fair use is
allowed and public archiving will rarely be challenged but may be a
grey area.  Using copyrighted material in a commercial campaign
against the wishes of the copyright holder is a really bad idea
legally and would be very risky unless Microsoft stuck to very short
quotes (and possibly even then).  They might do it anyway, but it's
the kind of tactic that their legal counsel might shoot down on
general principles.


-- 
Jonathan Conway                                                rise at knavery.net
      Don't worry about politics so much.  From time to time, the tree of
      liberty must be watered with the blood of idiots.    -    The Onion