dee@cca.UUCP (Donald Eastlake) (03/03/85)
Seems to me that sending EMAIL (assumings its not encrypted) is almost
exactly analogous to sending a postcard. Normally one would expect the
message to just be read by the addressee but there is nothing to stop any
person (or computer) that "handles" the message along the way from
reading. Thus if the message is libelous, you could be sued without the
addressee having to produce any particular other person who saw the
message, in the same way you can be sued for a libelous postcard.
On the original point, though, I think the originator of an individually
addressed piece of EMAIL would own the copyright on it and particularly
if they made it clear they did not want it published, could register
their copyright and sue for infringement.
--
+1 617-492-8860 Donald E. Eastlake, III
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