It's not enough to be right [copyright]

Last issue's Micro Law column (May/June 1997) addressed a massive lawsuit by six prominent content providers against a Web entrepreneur whom they accused of pirating their content by "framing" it. The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal (Dow Jones), CNN, Reuters, and Time Warner all joined to sue Total News for copyright infringement and sundry other alleged wrongs. As reported by wire June 16, the plaintiffs announced that Total News capitulated to them and signed a settlement agreement. The settlement is not a legal precedent against any third parties, and thus the underlying legal issues are left unresolved. Under the agreement, Total News must not ever frame Web sites of the Washington Post and the other plaintiffs, with framing broadly defined as directly or indirectly causing any further material to appear on the same screen. This further information includes any link back to Total News. While the agreement does not say this, apparently included is any manipulation of the Netsite/Location box near the top of the screen.