Subject: Re: Newsgroups From: JDLas@aol.com Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 21:41:24 -0400

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On 8-28 Stu Lowndes asks:

>What are the legal and media restrictions on lifting comments made in 
>newsgroups with the editorial purpose of including these comments in 
>feature articles to be later published in magazines and newspapers?

My guess (I'm no lawyer) is that there are no legal restrictions in lifting
*short* samplings of newsgroup postings. (Correct me if i'm wrong, steve
outing, but i doubt if you own the words that anyone posts to this list.)
  That would be in line with the fair use provision of the copyright laws.

But let me quickly add:  Ethically, I believe you're bound to contact anyone
who posts a message -- even if the newsgroup is a public forum -- and get his
or her permission.  Otherwise, it's tantamount to overhearing a conversation
in a bus station, then quoting that person by name without asking that
person's consent. 

In my experience, I've never encountered someone who's posted  a message but
then refused permission to have it quoted in a magazine. 

jd lasica 

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