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- This article is being presented through the *StarBoard* Journal of
- the FlagShip/StarShip, SIGS (Special Interest Groups) on the
- Delphi and GEnie telecommunications networks. Permission is
- hereby granted to non-profit organizations only to reprint this
- article or pass it along electronically as long as proper credit
- is given to both the author and the *StarBoard* Journal.
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-
- Gary Barrett included this transcription of interest to all:
-
- A couple of items from the September 29, 1986 issue of INFOWORLD:
-
- "SOFTWARE GROUP OFFERING BOUNTY TO FIGHT PIRATE BULLETIN BOARDS"
-
- WASHINGTON-The Software Publishers Association (SPA) has unveiled a
- plan, including a $100 bounty, it said is intended to fend off illegal
- distribution of copyrighted software.
-
- The association is offering the money to the first individual who
- provides it with specific information on "pirate" bulletin board
- systems that illegally post copyrighted software, said Ken Wasch,
- executive director of SPA.
-
- The group will investigate the bulletin boards that are reported, and
- suspect boards' system operators will be warned, Wasch said. "We want
- prosecutable information, but whether we do so or not is the question,"
- he said.
-
- ...the offer will continue until November 1.
-
- "The loss of software revenues because of pirate bulletin boards is
- growing," Wasch said. "We're not trying to be heavy-handed, but it's
- a warning to software pirates."
-
- Operators of legitimate boards shouldn't be worried about the group's
- policy, said Mike Todd, system operator for the IBM special interest
- group on The Source. "Persons who want to be system operators for
- boards should take responsibility that they're going to review what's
- on their systems," he said.
-
- Todd is a member of a newly-formed group called the National
- Association of Bulletin Board System Operators. The group is
- developing a code of ethical standards and procedures for users and
- system operators to follow in reporting alleged illegal activity on
- bulletin boards.
-
- ...to report illegal bulletin boards, write or call SPA at
- 1111 19th St NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 452-1600
- -------------
-
- "ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS BILL HEADS FOR SENATE PASSAGE"
-
- WASHINGTON-The Senate is expected soon to approve proposed legislation
- protecting the privacy of most electronic communications.
-
- The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the bill on September 19, and
- the bill now awaits a full Senate vote. The House has already
- approved a similar version of the bill, and observers expect it to be
- signed into law before the end of the year.
-
- If signed into law, the bill would change definitions in existing law
- to cover digital communications, create new civil and criminal
- penalties for breaking into private electronic communications systems,
- and provide rules for access to computer information by law
- enforcement officials.
-
- "There is absolute unanimity on the electronic mail and data
- provisions of the bill," said Mike Cavanagh, executive director of the
- Electronic Mail Association here. A Senate subcommittee made some
- minor alterations strengthening the privacy of cellular telephone
- calls, but that was the only change.
-
- ...the proposed legislation would also protect communications over a
- "common carrier" such as Tymnet, Telenet or CompuServe.
-
- ....This is the bill we've been discussing here. It looks like it
- will see passage soon, and most of the big computer companies seem
- pleased. Any comments from you sysops?
-
- -GaryB