The following message is self-explanatory. The original was left on
Compuserve by a sysop of a BBS in L.A.  I saw it on a USENET
mailing list, and am passing it on.
--------------------
.
. #: 91655      Sec. 0 - Communications
. Sb: Important warning!
.    20-May-84  00:48:44
. Fm: - tom tcimpidis 70250,323
. To: all
.
On May 16 I was served with a search warrant and my system seized
because of a message that allegedly had been left, unknown to me, on
one of the public boards. This was done by the L.A.P.D. under
direction of a complaint by Pacific telephone. All Sysop's should be
warned that under present law (or at least the present interpetation)
they are now responsible for ALL information that is left or exchanged
on their system and that ANY illegal or even questionable activities,
messages or even public outpourings are their direct legal
responsibility and that they will be held directly accountable
regardless of wether or not they knew of it, used it, and regardless
of any other circumstances! Yes, it is unjust. Yes, it is legally
questionable. But it, for the moment, seems to be enforcable and is
being "actively pursued" as a felony.  Tom Tcimpidis - Sysop of The
MOG-UR's HBBS (366-1238).  Mailing: P.O. Box 5236, Mission Hills, CA
91345.
.
.        I would appreciate it if this message was spread to as many
systems as possible so that the word may be spread to the greatest
number of Sysops.  1984 may, indeed, be here...





systems as possible so that the word ma