Re: [ALSC-Forum] Re: Another model to consider

[Karl Auerbach]

> > On Tue, Aug 21, 2001 at 06:05:18PM -0400, L Gallegos wrote:

> > > IMO, membership lists should be available to members ...
> > > ...  Of course, there must be rules attached to use of the
> > > membership list such as not using them for spam or commercial
> > > purposes of any kind.

> On 21 Aug 2001, at 15:53, Kent Crispin wrote:

> > Such rules would be absolutely impossible to enforce.

On Tue, 21 Aug 2001, L Gallegos wrote:

> I totally disagree.  Many memberships have such rules and they
> are enforced ...

Yes, you are quite right and Kent is quite wrong.

To illustrate let's look at the obligations imposed by our friend, the
State of California, on those members who obtain membership lists from
those public-benefit/non-profit corporations that actually admit that they
have members:

In Section 6330 (of the Corporations code) under part (b)(1) a member is
able to obtain the list only "for a purpose reasonably related to the
person's interest as a member."

And in the same section:  "Where the corporation reasonably believes that
the information will be used for another purpose...  it may deny the
member access to the list."

The code goes on in subsequent sections to define how these restrictions
may be enforced.

And in Section 6338 we have the following:

... a membership list or any part thereof may not be:
   (1) Used to solicit money or property unless such money or
       property will be used solely to solicit the vote of the members in
       an election to be held by their corporation.
   (2) Used for any purpose which the user does not reasonably and in
       good faith believe will benefit the corporation.
   (3) Used for any commercial purpose or purpose in competition with
       the corporation.
   (4) Sold to or purchased by any person.

So, we see that there is plenty of real world experience in the question
of member access to membership lists.  And from that experience abuses
have been seen and workable corrective measures imposed to eliminate them.

		--karl--