dingo,

Actually, I do work for an AP-member news service, and am well aware of the applicable copyright and state libel laws.

I surf FT on my own time.

Dorian,

My warning shot was intended to serve two purposes:

First, to stem the flow of posts that violate Flyertalk's Terms of Service, which each one of us has agreed to;

and second, to plead for some quality-control of content, if not some restraint in the quantity.

Suppose Jane Costello of the WSJ, for example, were to mention in casual convertion to her editors that their paper's content is reprinted here verbatim? Do you realize how fast that information would go up the chain of command and to the paper's legal liaison? Do any of you really want to risk putting Randy in the inenviable position of having to deal with their lawyers? Do you realize that he would most certainly be required to turn over names and email addresses of copyright violators if it came to that?

If you want your very own letter of cease and desist from a attorney representating a news organization, fine. I don't think you do. I've seen cc:'s of such letters posted in our newsroom from time to time, and they are pretty blunt about the repurcusions of ignoring such a request. I just figured the forewarning might be better coming from an informed member within the Flyertalk community.

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 03-02-2000).]