Re: Is listserv info copyrighted?

>Is the information that is posted on a listserv copyrighted?

Of course, unless it contains an explicit dedication to the public domain.

>Can student(s) print them and use as classroom handouts?

I don't see why not.

Different lists have different policies. On the list I run, COMPIL-L (a/k/a usenet comp.compilers), I explicitly disclaim a compilation copyright and advise contributors that by submitting articles they consent to unlimited reproduction in any form without renumeration. On some other lists, moderators assert some sorts of restrictions, e.g. reproduction in electronic form, or for personal use, but since none of this has ever been tested in court, it's all hand waving at this point. Most lists have no formal copyright policy at all.

On a typical listserv, when you send a message, you have to assume that it will be relayed electronically to a large and ill-defined set of subscribers all over the world, many of whom may not even be known to the listserv manger due to sublists, forwarding, etc. So it's hard to make a very compelling claim that any reproduction rights are naturally reserved.

As a courtesy, I'd ask permission before including such messages in a book or other more formal publication, but for informal classroom use, I wouldn't worry about it.

Regards,
John Levine, johnl[_at_]iecc.com, jlevine[_at_]delphi.com, 1037498[_at_]mcimail.com Received on Sat Mar 26 1994 - 00:37:21 GMT