Original materials

It is our group policy to limit postings to original materials. As a discussion group, we discuss issues among our own subscribers. Outsiders are usually not represented, but they are welcome to join the group.

Rights

There are numerous reasons for this policy. They include civil issues relating to copyright, and religious issues relating to Geneivat Daat. Our groups will not distinguish between those Internet postings that are bound by copyright laws and those that are not. No copying is allowed. Period.

This guideline is not open to interpretation, and it does not depend on what you may have heard or assumed in the past. The law is quite clear, and the guidelines of these groups are quite clear. We do not post anything that has been published elsewhere in any form.

Gaps in the policy

What should be done when material is not available online; when it is impossible to provide an Internet address or URL, or when other subscribers are unlikely to have access to your printed source? This is indeed a limitation with Internet groups. These resources may remain unavailable. There may indeed be cases in which you will not be able to cite the material that you want.

You may want to post a very brief summary of that material on the group. Most people do not feel that this will do justice to the original. That evaluation is probably correct.

Exceptions

Subscribers sometimes explain the need to share items of information. This is indeed acceptable in many other groups, but not on our own. If people want to read information that is posted on other groups, then we recommend that they join those groups. We cannot summarize everything that is posted on every Internet resource.