*Selective* Browsers Pose BIG Question?

The idea of copyright seems to be based on the idea that information cannot be copied and redistributed without the author's consent. But if that infomration exists in cyberspace, it is possible to lead the customer to it without making a copy whatsoever.

Here is why this could be important:

Imagine that HP decides to put up a page describing/supporting the sale of its printers and it designs a page that shows two windows at the bottom. These two windows show information to help sell consumers on buying HP printers. As it happens, HP knows where Ziff/CMP/Infoworld have http sites which contain glowing reviews of the HP printers. The two windows at the bottom of the HP page show consumers what those reviews say. But no copy has been made of the original source material. All HP has done is provide an HTTP link which shows some of the information available through that link rather than forcing the consumer to click on the link and leave HP's domain altogether.

Are Ziff/CMP/IDG going to win their suit against HP? HP gets free ads, essentially, supporting its printer. And it claims it is violating no copyright law because Ziff/CMP/IDG have already put these printer reviews up in their free Web sites.

Derek Drew
New Models In Information Age Retailing
<drew[_at_]interport.net> Received on Wed Mar 01 1995 - 22:14:33 GMT