copyright & bbs systems

Many Internet copyright notices restrict reproduction of an item (like a FAQ) on "commercial systems", and permit reproduction in other, generally "nonprofit" contexts. Often, these materials are distributed around the Internet (big collection of computers) via Internet service providers like Netcom, etc.

Now, Netcom and others are all "commercial systems" , and "copies" of the FAQ's certainly seem to be "reproduced" on these systems. Some of them also show up on BBS systems connected to the Internet. One must pay a fee to join the systems, and would not see these "reproductions" of FAQ's etc. but for their presence/publication on each system.

Do these circumstances suggest infringement?

Is the issue one of an individual charge for each copyright item, or a charge for joining a system with free access thereon to all copyrighted items for free?

James C.
<jcook[_at_]netcom.com> Received on Fri Nov 11 1994 - 17:48:20 GMT