I don't like to see math-fun get off-topic more than anyone else, so instead of presenting an opinion I'll present some information and references. Anyone interested in the legal aspects of copyrights can look up further information themselves rather than continuing to debate facts on this list. Fair use is defined in Chapter 1 of Circular 92 (Copyright Law of the United States of America): --- 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include- (1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (2) the nature of the copyrighted work; (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors. --- For more information on this often difficult-to-interpret clause: http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ21.pdf And for general information on US copyrights: http://www.copyright.gov/ J.P. Grossman On Thu, 13 Mar 2003, Bernie Cosell wrote:

On 13 Mar 2003 at 6:47, Henry Baker wrote:

...

For the record, I've been a subscriber to the NYTimes for many years, now. ... I could have scanned the article and posted the image, but that would have been significantly larger and less convenient.

Which part of the copyright laws allows "scanning and posting" of copyrighted materials? That's even *WORSE*, IMO, than forwarding the electronic copy -- at least you can make a [feeble] case that since the NYTimes is willing to send out an email copy, then by some copyright-transitivity-rule [which isn't in my copy of Title 17 but is apparently in some folks's versions of it] *I* am authorized, in turn, to futher-forward copies of the article.

/Bernie\

-- Bernie Cosell Fantasy Farm Fibers mailto:bernie@fantasyfarm.com Pearisburg, VA --> Too many people, too few sheep <--

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