Date   : Mon, 28 May 1984 11:18:49 PDT
From   : Phil Lapsley <phil%ucbnewton.CC@Ucb-Vax.ARPA>
Subject: Responsibility of Sysops

     "BBS sysops should not be responsible as they are not acting
      as publishers, but merely providing a medium which allows
      users to act as publishers."

     Still, what about bulletin boards that are completely devoted to
phone phreaks or computer "hackers", and exist for that purpose alone?
The Sysop may not actually take an active role in the discussions, but
I'd have to say he's responsible -- after all, he's effectively
condoning an illegal activity by providing his bulletin board, if it
is for that use only.

    Obviously, the above does not apply at all if it's only one
message and the sysop had no knowledge of it.

                                       Phil
                               (phil@Berkeley.ARPA)