>However, I do not believe you can publish someone's words without their
>permission. I am told (by others who claimed to know) that anything put out
>on a newsgroup is public domain, but an e-mail list isn't, because e-mail
>isn't.
Good point BUT if someone else edits and summarizes, and the clear intent is
for that to happen, then there is probably no problem. Maybe we need a short
disclaimer to be put in the front of each message dedicated to this purpose.
Something like: "The following message dedicate to the public domain:"
I know it's a pain and it is probably not necessary. If in the ongoing
process of building this tome, the intent is clear that what one says is
going into the public domain, it would be very hard for someone to make a
case in court. It is also harder to make a case when no profit is involved,
not impossible, just harder. It all boils down to who ya going to sue, do
they have any money, and in this case, can you prove that you were stupid
enough to get duped into revealing your precious words in a public forum for
the world to see.
Bostick & Sullivan
Platinum and Palladium
Photographic Chemistry
Santa Fe, New mexico