Re: Welcoming Document Providers

The question has been raised as to whether it is appropriate for discussion groups of this type to allow vendors to advertise their wares. One suggestion was offered that such advertising is OK if initiated by an independent person, in the form of a question such as: "Where can I purchase . . . "

But whether the advertisement is self-initiated or initiated by an independent, the problem is that there usually follows a haphazard frenzy of responses where those companies who happen to be monitoring the discussion group rush to place similar advertisements, while those companies who think it is not appropriate, don't-- and other companies who do not happen to monitor the group, miss out completely.

Since the purpose of a discussion group is to consider all aspects of a question, this goal is not served unless all vendors are posted at the same time on equal footing, for comparison.

Here is a recommended procedure for accomplishing this goal:

1) When a question is floated requesting names of vendors, the vendors should be prohibited from responding directly to the discussion group, but instead should direct their responses to the webmaster or other designated person such as the originator of the question, who will compile the results.

2) Any vendor so responding, should also be required to present a list of known competitors, so that the competitors can be listed in the event they do not monitor the discussion group. Every vendor knows his competitors.

3) By following the above rules, the person compiling the results can then be confident they will post a fairly complete listing of vendors that perform the required service.


Ken Gural
PATENTEC


Received on Wed Feb 23 2005 - 17:12:06