Re: favor

Tim O'Connor (tim@roughdraft.org)
Thu, 23 Dec 1999 14:29:20 -0500 

At 2:12 PM -0500 on 12/23/1999, you wrote:

> << Please don't make requests for copyright violations here.  If you
>  want to do it in private mail, that's your business, but not on this
>  list, OK? >>
>
> JD Salinger is a historical figure, there is no difference between asking for
> pictures of Salinger than there would be in asking for pictures of Kennedy,
> Charlie Chaplin or Babe Ruth.

This isn't a bazaar for trading baseball cards or anything else.  And 
copyright owners are very skittish about digitized versions of their 
work done by third parties.  I know this because I routinely deal 
with inquiries from copyright-holders seeking removal of their work 
from web sites where I work.

> I know that people on the list are afraid to mention almost anything here
> because Salinger's lawyers are waiting to get them. I didn't ask for copies
> of his work, just pictures.

I recognize that you were not asking for work, but urged you to keep 
it private.  Our discussions are not guided by fear of Salinger's 
lawyers, but we do all we can to respect the writer's wishes.  That 
means not trading or posting online copies of his work in any 
circumstance except that which falls under the rules of fair use. 
The welcome message and/or the web site have a pointer to legal 
definitions of fair use, to which we strongly adhere.

> If that bothers you, I'd suggest that your conscience would be better served
> dropping off of the list, because the web page for this mailing list has
> pictures of covers of books and magazines relating to Salinger.

It would be tough for me to drop out, since I manage it and the web 
site that holds its archives.  The web site does not have any 
pictures on it, with the exception of a pair of eyes.  Check it out 
at http://www.nyu.edu/acf/staff/oconnort/JDS/ if you would like to 
verify for yourself.  There are no pictures of book jackets or 
magazines or anything else.

> So, if my "requests for copyright violations" here upsets you, I can't
> imagine how you could still be part of this group without being a hypocrite.
>
> OK?

I hope I've explained things clearly enough.  <Shrug.>  If that makes 
me a hypocrite, so it goes.  I've done worse things.

--tim o'connor