🚀 go-pugleaf

[1]  I doubt Stargate (SIS) is either a broadcaster or a common
carrier.  Probably a programmer.  Just as HBO Marquis (a redistributor
of HBO) is a programmer, while MCA is the mds common carrier.

[2]  Submissions to usenet may be the intellectual property of the
author, the company/organization for which the author works, the
company/org providing the facilities and equipment for
creation/transmission of the submission, or maybe even Usenix.
Nobody knows!  (Almost everybody has an opinion)!

    About 10 months ago, or so, I spent a lot of time and several
    thousand dollars with my firms's retained attorneys (who
specialize in copyright law and software and information) trying
to determine just where usenet stands.  I had a plan for redistributing
usenet material via a for-profit information provider.  (This ticked
off a lot of people, though my goals weren't self-enriching).  My
attorneys' opinion was then, as is now, that they would be happy
to take either side of a test!  (Well, preferrably the side with
more money).  (Actually, they don't really feel this money-grubbing;
but it got the point across).

[3]  Related to [2], usenet may or may not be public domain material.
Again, nobody really knows.

[4]  I'm still waiting for SIS to publish a statement of their
goals, policies, and practices.  (Maybe I missed it)?  I've just
read 58 submissions interpreting what SIS's goals and policies are
(..going to be).

[5]  I am in favor of technology improving the quality of my
life.  If UOM wants to subscribe to SIS to get news cheaper and
faster, great!  However, I admit it, if the success of SIS ever
translates into the reduction of audience or participation in
usenet, I'll probably be annoyed.

-- 
       Dave Stoffel (703) 790-5357
       seismo!mimsy!dave
       dave@Mimsy.umd.edu
       Amber Research Group, Inc.