dhesi@bsu-cs.UUCP (Rahul Dhesi) (12/14/88)
I am facing a dilemma as moderator of comp.binaries.ibm.pc. (Long message follows -- please read patiently.) It is generally agreed that Usenet is a noncommercial network and its use for direct commercial gain is frowned upon and, in the case of Internet sites, is probably illegal. Some software may be freely distributed, but requires a fee for continued use beyond a trial period. It's hard for me to decide what to do with such software when it is sent to me for posting to comp.binaries.ibm.pc. I really don't like being in the position of having to reject a submission because it is too commercial. As moderator I get any authority I have solely because Usenet users allow me to have it. But Usenet users are a diverse lot and I can't please all of them at the same time. If you, the software author, will cooperate, I think I have a solution. Use any reasonable license statement. I see nothing wrong with your expecting to be compensated for your efforts. But if you require a registration fee, then please consider including a special clause like this one: In keeping with the noncommercial, cooperative nature of the Usenet network, the registration fee for this software is not mandatory for those who obtain it directly from a Usenet site and make only personal, noncommercial use of it. Usenet users will appreciate your recognizing the special nature of this network. -- Rahul Dhesi UUCP: <backbones>!{iuvax,pur-ee}!bsu-cs!dhesi
berger@clio.las.uiuc.edu (12/18/88)
I have a clever idea. How about an UNMODERATED software notefile so we can avoid these problems altogether? Mike Berger Department of Statistics University of Illinois berger@clio.las.uiuc.edu {convex | pur-ee}!uiucuxc!clio!berger