Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 09:21:07 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Dillon <michael@memra.com> Subject: Re: eDNS - Temporary Freeze [...] Where does NSI get the idea that it can abscond with the database it developped under contract when the contractor is the U.S. government. [...]

Perhaps, from the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs). Perhaps, from West Publishing. (It may be instructive to examine some of the West Publishing issues.) NSI might assert copyright of the .com database, (the database with, for example, the contact information, payment information, etc.). I believe that Federal contractors own the copyright for work done under government contract. The U.S. government probably has fairly broad rights to the .com database developed by NSI under government contract. However, the U.S. government may not have the right to give it to someone else. (I am not a lawyer...) -tjs