On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 Bowerbird@aol.com wrote:

darren said:

...

A link to some relevant information would be better.

such as a referral service to lawyers for consultation?

because that's what the world seems to be coming to...

-bowerbird

A few words from one of our copyright advisors should serve to settle things down: US Copyright *** Under Section 506(a)(1) of the 1976 Act and 18. . .2319 anyone "who infringes a copyright willfully and for purpose of commercial advantage. . .or private financial gain" is subject to felony or misdemeanor punishment. In addition, following U.S. v. La Macchia (quashing prosecution of a computer bulletin board operator who distributed free unauthorized copies of commercial software ot subscribers) the 1997 "No Electronic Theft" legislation made willful infringement a crime even if undertaken without a profit motive. It has been held that only the copyright statutes cited above may be used to prosecute infringers, so fanciful interpretations of other laws on theft need not be feared. Given the precautions Gutenberg takes to be sure it copies only public domain works it is highly unlikely that willfullness could ever be established.