NASA (PICS again)--nasa.com response

[Mark Ellis]

The incorrect PICS label has been removed from http://www.nasa.com.

Here's a response from Randy Epstein of HOST Networks Inc. which owns the
nasa.com domain. (forwarded with permission)  He's had a look at the debate
on the archive.

>Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 00:06:14 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Randy Epstein <repstein at host.net>
>To: Mark Ellis <mark.ellis at rpl.richmond.bc.ca>
>Subject: RE: NASA (PICS again)
>MIME-Version: 1.0
>
>Thanks.  Interesting comments regarding our use of the domain.  In
>response to the various questions at hand;
>
>o NASA claimed they would send us a cease and desist.  We never received
>  it.  On top of that, our attorneys, the EFF or the ACLU (NASA attorneys
>  made various criminal threats towards us) think that we should even
>  honor their cease and desist.  The last time we received any word from
>  NASA was in October, 1996.  We have owned this domain since early 1995.
>
>o Users of the Internet need to become more educated.  Since when would
>  you find a federal government agency in the .COM top level, or any top
>  level other then .GOV?  We own NASA.COM, NASA.NET and NASA.ORG.
>  These sites generate millions of hits per year.  Obviously, people need
>  education.
>
>o We expect various people in this world to be 'outraged' by our use of
>  these domains.  In fact, we look forward to a fight for our rights to
>  use them.  The publicity would help us get our point across.  However,
>  the majority would not support the argument that we have violated any
>  laws or are doing anything that should not be done.
>
>o We fully support the rights to freedom of speech.  If anyone has a
>  problem with our content, let's discuss it publically.  Again, no laws
>  are being broken and we will fight and be supported by some very strong
>  'free speech' organizations.  This is America.  Support your rights.
>
>o We have not violated any trademark or copyright laws.  The U.S. Federal
>  government cannot hold a trademark or copyright.  So, obviously, NSI
>  (InterNIC in particular), that nasty monopoly can't do anything about
>  it.  We are not violating any of their policies and therefore the
>  'domain name dispute policy' cannot be used.  More information about
>  InterNIC's dirty business practices will be available on our web site
>  in the upcoming weeks.
>
>o The National Aeronautics Space Act of 1958, Sec. 310
>  (http://www.host.net/spaceact.html) does not apply to us.  We are not
>  (a) using the initials NASA in our company or business name, (b)
>  confusing the public by giving the impression or misleading the public
>  in any way, shape or form that we are in fact the National Aeronautics
>  and Space Administration, or have any connection whatsoever with that
>  agency, (c) advertising the site as NASA (or even WWW.NASA.COM).  NASA
>  has no case.
>
>If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.
>
>-Randy Epstein
>repstein at host.net

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Mark Ellis
Computer Services Technician            Phone: 604.231.6410
Richmond Public Library                 Email: mark.ellis at rpl.richmond.bc.ca
Richmond, British Columbia
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