🚀 go-pugleaf

Although plans for what to do with stargate are not finalized, here is
my impression, based on talking to Mark Horton. Note that it is *my*
interpretation of what he said.

The problem is that doing stargate will be expensive (more than the
initial experimental phase). Optional donations are not expected to
work. Therefore mandatory charges must be made. Therefore restrictions
on redistribution must be imposed. Therefore Stargate and Usenet will
become two separate things. Stargate will NOT simply be a redistribution
of (some) Usenet material, although it may include that. It will become
an entity in its own right. What it will carry besides moderated Usenet
groups is being investigated. The intention is not to try to "own" material
already published on Usenet, although note that derivitive works based
on public domain works can legally be copyrighted. Exactly what will happen
with this is unclear. Carrying commercial advertising is at least being
considered.

I am somewhat unhappy with this; I would prefer to see Stargate as a
handy *adjunct* to Usenet, not a whole different thing. But as far as
I can tell, Mark sees the splitting up as desirable. Sigh.
	Doug Merritt