At 01:15 AM 4/15/2006, you wrote: >I don't think a verbal contract (agreement) would take precedence over the >copyright requirement that the copyright transfer be in writing, but that >would be an interesting question for Pat Asher. Transfer of exclusive rights must be in writing and signed by the owner. "Transfer of a right on a nonexclusive basis does not require a written agreement." http://www.loc.gov/copyright/circs/circ1.html It is on this basis that RootsWeb acquires the right to archive and redistribute mailing list posts under the AUP. By posting, the poster grants RootsWeb a nonexclusive right to redistribute. The poster/copyright holder may still "distribute" elsewhere as desired. Pat