> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lawrence Buja [SMTP:southern@cgd.ucar.edu]
> Sent: Monday, May 24, 1999 6:32 PM
> To: announcements@jag-lovers.org
> Subject: [ADMIN] Update: jag-lovers archives
>
>
> [Note: followups to this can be made to policy@jag-lovers.org]
>
> I wanted to update Jag-lovers on the status of the archive closing.
>
> First, thanks for all the notes of support. I really appreciate them.
> And it's been made quite clear what a valuable resource everyone here
> considers the archive. If it helps, I feel the same and I want them
> back online as badly as anyone else.
>
> Currently, there is NO legal action pending against Jag-lovers. A few
> threats, yes, but real action, no. And the current situation appears to
> be nearing resolution. There is no need to form a Jag-lovers legal
> defense fund at this time.
>
> So, then, why are the archives still closed?
>
> The archives remain closed in response to not one, but three vendors
> informing me that they felt that vendors were being unfairly maligned
> via Jag-lovers archives and that they had little opportunity to respond.
>
> So why should this concern us?
>
> First, fair is fair. If their complaints are valid, then we do need to
> address them. Jag-lovers is read by so many Jaguar owners now that
> anything said here, even off-hand comments, can have a tremendous impact
> on the Jaguar support businesses. Second, if business owners don't see
> Jag-lovers maintaining a level playing field, I have no doubt that one
> eventually will seek relief via the courts. As this incident has shown,
> even the threat of such can cause immense headaches for your admins.
>
> One long-time Jaguar vendor wrote me...
> "...I'd be lying if I said we hadn't kicked around doing the same [suing
> Jag-lovers]. The real problem is that anyone can join and say what
> they will, and we (vendors) really cannot defend ourselves. My reply
> messages (concerning a complaint) have been chopped to pieces or never
> make it to the list at all. People who have been on the list awhile
> can tell who is OK and who is full of hot air... but when the archive
> is searchable from the Internet, anyone can find ONE message and form
> an opinion from it. There are two sides to every story, and they need
> to be told for things to be fair."
>
> Jag-lovers was designed to be positive and balanced forum, acting as an
> open repository for the shared experience of the Jaguar enthusiast
> community, for the benefit of Jaguar owners everywhere. We have no
> desire to be used as a soap-box by one party with an ax to grind
> against another.
>
> Although the attorneys who have reviewed the specific threat before us
> have assured us that all court decisions to date are squarely in our
> favor, the simple fact that business owners here feel that they can't
> effectively address statements which members have made on Jag-lovers
> indicates that we have to take a hard look at how we are doing things
> here.
>
> Tomorrow, I will send out a request for Jag-lovers members with
> experience in either law or publishing to join a Jag-lovers advisory
> panel. This panel will evaluate the current situation and see what's
> necessary to ensure that we have established a level playing field for
> both individuals and vendors alike. They will be tasked with seeing
> that the appropriate policies go into place and that the proper
> disclaimers are posted to ensure that Jag-lovers is acting only as an
> impartial kiosk for information. And this group will make the ultimate
> decision on how we can get back to serving the Jag-lovers archives given
> the parameters of this group.
>
> If you've made it this far, I thank you for your time. This isn't fun
> stuff to have to deal with, but if we can get the appropriate guidelines
> in place, we can get back to what we're really here for.
>
> Again, any constructive comments should go to policy@jag-lovers.org
>
> /\ Lawrence Buja http://www.cgd.ucar.edu/cms/southern
> \_][ southern@ncar.ucar.edu National Center for Atmospheric Research
> \_________________________Boulder,_Colorado___80307-3000__________
>
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