[at-l] Has Wingy ripped off the DataBook?

[DataBook97@xxxxxxx (DataBook97@xxxxxxx)]

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In a message dated 2/10/03 10:15:48 PM Eastern Standard Time, RCLI4@aol.com
writes:


> Now is about the time Daniel Chazin (He is the fella with his name on the
> data book)comes on and says he gave Wingfoot permission.  You don't have to
> be a Harvard Lawyer to figure out that this arguement is pointless.  I
> can't
> be the only one that has read Mr. Chazin's post the last three years
> running.

       Okay, I've read this entire thread.

       First of all, it should be understood that I do not personally have
the copyright to the Data Book, even though I'm the one who compiles the
data.  The copyright belongs to ATC, and I'm not the one who decides whether
permission should be granted to others to use information contained in the
Data Book.  That decision is made by the people who work at ATC.  I have
never spoken to Wingfoot, and have never personally granted him permission to
do anything.

       My recollection is that, in the past, the issue of Wingfoot's use of
Data Book mileages in his Thru Hikers' Handbook has come up.  I've asked the
people at ATC, and they replied that he was granted (by them) permission to
use these mileages.

       However, the issue relating to this year's Handbook appears to be a
little different.  It has been alleged (and I haven't seen the actual
publication, so I'm just repeating what has been posted by others) that
Wingfoot has not only copied the mileages, but also adopted the same format
used in the Data Book.  This presents a very different issue.  I don't know
the answer, but I have forwarded the original message to Brian King at ATC
and will see what he says.

                   Daniel Chazin
                   A.T. Data Book Editor