Re: "Return-Path" vs. "From"

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Article #102

#102

From: Mark Crispin
Date: Mon, 06 Feb 1984 21:35

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     I have seen the question of replying to the Return-Path come up
zillions of times.  Why won't people read RFC 821 and 822 instead of
asking this question (or complaining about software which does not
reply to the Return-Path)?

     You *never* reply to the Return-Path.  The Return-Path is merely
the "return address" for a message if it is undeliverable.  It may be
the sender of the message.  It may be the author of the message.  It
may be the reply address of the message.  It may be the mailer process
at the sending site.  It may be null.  It may be none of these.  There
is NO relationship between the Return-Path and any reply address.  The
fact that actual usage patterns very often establish such a relationship
is irrelevant.

-- Mark --
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Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!ulysses!burl!hou3c!MRC@SU-SCORE.ARPA
From: MRC@SU-SCORE.ARPA (Mark Crispin)
Newsgroups: net.mail.headers
Subject: Re: "Return-Path" vs. "From"
Message-ID: <239@hou3c.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-Feb-84 16:35:15 EST
Article-I.D.: hou3c.239
Posted: Mon Feb  6 16:35:15 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 9-Feb-84 22:13:06 EST
Sender: ka@hou3c.UUCP (Kenneth Almquist)
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To: Mishkin@YALE.ARPA
Cc: Ellis@YALE.ARPA
In-Reply-To: Message from "Nathaniel Mishkin <Mishkin@YALE.ARPA>" of Mon 6 Feb 84 12:36:45-PST
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