Re: TML Public or Private

Carl sez:
}The TML is just as public as any other magazine and as such, should not be
}considered "private" mail.  Anyone can subscribe.  Porting over portions
}or whole bundles to those that do not have subscription capability is, in
}essence, a subscription.

}If you
}have something to say which is private in nature, send it to specific
}inidividuals, not the List.

Hmmm, well, you have a point.  However, I see a problem:

A great deal of what appears here as 'original material' ie. the stories,
vehicles, and ideas posted, etc, do fall under the definition (as I
understand it) of what GDW claims as it's intellectual property.  If
someone has a story which is not totally original, (if it uses the
Traveller background) then writing it to a public medium may constitute
plagurism.  Now, I'm really not up to snuff on the legality of such
things.  However, I don't think I can continue to write stories where
the inspiration is so obvious to all concerned.

I have always been of the opinion that The 4.5th Frontier War was
unpublishable, as it draws background, inspiration, situations, and even
characters lock stock and barrel from other stories.  If posting it here
on the TML constitutes publishing it in a public medium, I may indeed
have broken some law.  Or if I haven't, I'll betcha a lawyer could at
least make a case that I had done so.

I therefore consider all vehicles, stories, and other original work of
mine (or anyone elses) which appear here to be private in nature.  By
that definition, we may continue to write 'original traveller' material.
If the TML is indeed a public medium, I don't know if we can do that and
post it here.  True, it is doubtful that any of us would actually be the
subject of a lawsuit, as no money ever changes hands, but it may be
illegal in principle.  (I think...  I really don't know...)

Nick?  *********** H E L P !!!! ************  :-)

2G Scott