>>
>>Yes, and the funny thing is that, in the same document, Level Extreme gives permission to use this material to some degree. Don't get me wrong, I fully agree with the statements in the document and advice people to read it once more.
>
>It's called fair use and was discussed just today in another thread.
>
>>>
>>>Yes. LevelExtreme owns the UT and can suspend it at anytime.
>>
>>Where did you read this?? You sound so sure..
>
>See the copyright notice at the end of http://www.levelextreme.com/News/InformationalBulletin.asp.

Can't find it...



>As for shutting down the web site, haven't you ever heard of a business closing it's doors? The UT is not a publically run forum. It is a business, just as the coffee shop on the corner or the supermarket down the street. There is no obligation to keep it running.

Of course I can think of several valid reasons for a shutdown. But a sudden and permanent shutdown - let's say tomorrow morning 5 o'clock - for some 'vague' reason would not be acceptible, not for me and not for you either, I'm sure. A business is not only run to earn some money. By the time that users have incorporated it in their own (professional or social) routine, there is also a public responsibility issue. For example, a supermarket is not allowed to suddenly decide not to work today, or to prevent JVP from entering and buying food. At least, that's the case in democratic Holland.

But if you are right, according to Canadian law, then shouldn't we have a little worry about the content of the UT?! As admitted in the copyright notice, the contributors are the owners, but what 'we' own may be lost forever if the business owner decides to stop. I know that this is hypothetical (is it?), but the idea of some (whereunder you) that it's logical and okay that the owner has the right to stop, is not shared by others (whereunder me).


>>I sense in your words that you actually think it's not fair and that payments for years ahead should be paid back. Am I right?
>
>I have mixed feelings on this. If you violate something that you agreed to follow, then perhaps you should forfeit any payments you had made. But then, it really depends on what happened. If someone feels they should get their money back, they can always take it to court.
>
>>So, you agree that they have no right to do everything? I specifically used the word 'everything' because Denis Chassé explicitly used that word.
>
>I didn't see the posting that Denis made, so I can't comment on that.

Well, you could have, by pressing 'View all messages of this thread'. And then you could have commented. And if you don't want to do that, then you could try to believe me and react on that. This is not an accusation, don't get me wrong. I appreciate that you jumped in. But your reaction in this particular case was not really strong, imo. You can do better, I know.



>>I wonder whether JVP is prospectless if he decides to go to court. No, just kidding, I don't want to throw oil on the fire.
>>What I try to find out is not so much what rights a member actually has, but rather whether the members have the right to be a partner in defining the rights. It is my observation that sometimes it's quite easy and other times it's too difficult to influence the administration.
>
>IMO, the members do not have the rights to form the terms and conditions. Again, the UT is a business and the rules of using the business are left up to the business owner, so long as those rules don't violate the laws where the business is incorporated.

Laws, laws... Aren't we an international community, rather than a Canadian community?! Do I now have to study the Canadian laws?
What I wrote is: ... whether the members have the right to be a partner in defining the rights.
This is different from what you seem to think I wrote: that we should have the right to form the terms and conditions.
I'm suggesting partnership, or being represented. As I now understand, in Canada the business has the right to freely decide to let members/users/customers being represented.
Would you applaud such a decision by the owner?