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From: sdo@u1100a.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Washers and Dryers / Consumer reports
Message-ID: <721@u1100a.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 16-Aug-84 06:21:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: u1100a.721
Posted: Thu Aug 16 06:21:05 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 19-Aug-84 14:14:01 EDT
References: <496@bunker.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway, NJ
Lines: 33

>If the salesperson tells you what Consumer Reports says about their
>product, report that to CU (publishers of CR).  It is against CU
>policy to use their reviews in that manner, since it jeopardizes
>their reputation for objectivity.

It seems pretty clear to me that even CU can't violate someone's
freedom of expression.  A copyright is one thing, and they can
refuse permission for the reproduction of their reports in
advertising, but they can't tell someone not to repeat what
was read in the magazine.  I didn't sign a non-disclosure
agreement when I subscribed, and I should be able to tell
anyone I want what I read there.  I can even show them my copy
of the magazine.  The copyright protects the expression of the
idea - not the idea itself.  That's why I can write a program
that does the same thing as yours as long as I don't use your
source code.

I'm not even convinced that it is illegal to print the results
of their tests, even though most courts have upheld them in
this area.  I'm not allowed to print the "grep" manual page,
but I can certainly say that "grep matches patterns" without
fear of prosecution by AT&T.  And AT&T is a lot bigger than CU.
The big question, in my mind, is whether the test results are
distinct from the particular expression of them in the magazine.

If anyone has meaningful and relevant information about this,
I'd like to know it.  Thank you.
-- 

			Scott Orshan
			Bell Communications Research
			201-981-3064
			{ihnp4,allegra,pyuxww}!u1100a!sdo