ADMIN: Possible Change to the Main List Settings

[Talisman]

--- In HPFGU-Feedback at yahoogroups.com, "abigailnus" 
<abigailnus at y...> wrote:
> Dear Feedback members,
> 
> Quite simply, we'd like to open the list archives to non-members.
> Posting would still require joining the group, and new posters
> would still be moderated, but anyone would be able to read
> messages posted by members.

<snip>
>> 
> 2. <snip> Instead of buying a cat in a bag, we'll have informed
> customers, and hopefully that will translate to a better  signal-
to-noise ratio.

Talisman: It's awfully easy to subscribe/unsubscribe to any group.  
I would be surprised if the burden of subscription is keeping many 
people away. You've already got the advertisement value of the size 
of the group.  If they decide it's not for them, freedom is only an 
email away.
> 
> > Cons:
> 
> 1. First, the obvious - HPfGU would become Google-able. Anything
> that any of us have posted would now be visible not only to the 
11,000 members of HPfGU but to anyone online. <snip> This <snip>  
might include personal information. There's also the issue of 
copyright - anyone can access the posts and copy them at will. Right 
now, we feel that there is no significant difference between 
exposing yourself to 11,000 strangers and to the entire internet, 
but some of you may feel otherwise.

Talisman:
I feel otherwise.  And, I agree with others who have noted the 
inappropriateness of switching terms on posters ex post facto.  If 
you want to reserve extant posts to a members only archive, as older 
posts are now stored (and which currently requires separate 
subscription) that's fine.  If I post anything in the future I'll 
know it is subject to the new terms. 

Also, posters do retain all rights to their work, including 
copyright.  Should an original HPfGUs theory unexpectedly turn up in 
a new Harry Potter guide at the local book store, a list of 
identifiable members gives the copyright holder some chance of 
protecting their rights, via discovery of the connection between a 
listed poster and the person exploiting the work. This is much 
harder when uncountable anonymous viewers can access the ideas.

If work product posted to a private group were to be made public, 
without the author's agreement, and copyright infringement followed, 
there might be further legal ramifications for the Admin.