Date: Sun, 04 Apr 1993 16:35:11 -0500 From: Charlie.Mingo@P4218.F70.N109.Z1.FIDONET.ORG(Charlie Mingo) Subject: File 1--Re: Debating the Virus contest - clarification >> Surely, Mr. Ludwig would not hold me responsible for the destruction >> of his home caused by someone who decided to implement the plans I >> presented purely for "scientific research purposes". > To date, no case has been carried against a publisher for > this kind of material. {Soldier of Fortune} magazine was struck > in a case for libel regarding publishing an ad for Murder for > Hire services. I am not sure of the status of the case. It wasn't libel (after all, no one was defamed), but negligence. The plaintiff argued that the magazine had a duty not to carry solicitations for criminal acts. The jury agreed, and found SoF liable for a verdict of several million dollars. The award was upheld on appeal to the US Court of Appeals. The case was ultimately settled for undisclosed terms. SoF's defense was that it couldn't be expected to screen every ad to detect an illegal purpose behind them. However, this particular classified ad was so blatant, that it was obvious that a gun was being offered for hire. Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253