From: cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu (Robert Jacobson)
Subject: Postings on sci.virtual-worlds and Copyright Protection
Date: Mon, 5 Aug 1991 19:07:54 GMT
Organization: Human Interface Technology Lab, Univ. of Wash., Seattle



It's been brought to my attention, as moderator, that material which has
been posted to sci.virtual-worlds is beginning to show up in various
commercial books and journals.  As a result, if you post an item here,
you may have the strange experience of seeing your thoughts copyrighted
by someone else.  There is no nefarious intent on the part of the publish-
ers, who are just protecting their own work.  But your ideas may
inadvertently become others' property.

My advice:  If you are posting material which reflects your own special
perspective on an issue, or publicly discussing a concept or topic to
which you wish to retain proprietary rights -- or just want to keep your
ideas free for others to duplicate without question -- please place a
copyright notice in your signature or in the body of the posting.

That way, if others wish to use your remarks/information, they may have
to consult you first.  I'm no attorney, so this is just a guess, but at
the least you will have established a history for your posting.

A copyright notice goes like this:

	Copyright (c) 1991 Human Interface Technology Laboratory
				   - or -
		Copyright (c) 1991 Robert Jacobson

While the republication of materials posted here is generally welcome
by the authors, its copyright status should first be clarified.  

Bob Jacobson
Moderator
--