Topic: Censorship of the Internet

One-minute review: How define the role of on-line services? Publisher or library? For what it’s worth, I cannot see how on-line services could be called “publishers.” Publishers’ control over publications is exacting, for the purpose of selling a particular product by a particular author. Control of the content of materials published is the source of tension between author and publisher throughout the process, with authors often submitting to ‘suggested’ changes. Further, the publisher actively markets the materials in their finished form. The purpose of the publisher is to sell the materials submitted for publication.

The purpose of individual members of on-line services is to express their opinions. The online service is not actively involved in helping the member sell the opinions expressed. RayS.