7 ms·

It's not obvious to me. If I photocopy an ilegal ad at Kinko's, is it Kinko's fault? If I send an illegal ad via first class mail, is it USPS's fault?

thisiszilff 8y ago
I don't think it's the ad, per say, but the agreement for delivery. It's be like you sending housing ads and asking USPS to only deliver them to men. USPS would probably be on the hook then as well. Back to your point though, it is a new domain because with your paper examples there is no one who can "undo" the illegal ad. You copy it at Kinko's and it's not like Kinko's is out there delivering it with you. With online platforms, they both Target and deliver these ads and are responsible for continually delivering them.
jahewson 8y ago
What a dumb question. No, of course it’s not. If you ask USPS to display your illegal ad in their window then it certainly is their fault. That would be an actually comparable situation here.
- mirimir 8y ago
  Well, there was a criminal case against FedEx for delivering illegal prescriptions from Internet drug stores. But it got tossed.
  - fit2rule 8y ago
    Is FedEx marketing itself to drug distributors as a way to filter out the chaff and get straight to the drug users of highest value? I think not.
Broken_Hippo 8y ago
Sometimes. They sold it to you. Example: I worked at a pharmacy with the self-serve digital photo services. A customer brought in a CD and made christmas cards from a family picture. It turns out the picture was taken by a local photographer the customer had hired. The pharmacy I worked at got the legal notice. Supposedly, we were partly to blame since we profited off of the cards the customer printed. Nevermind the fact that we didn't generally check the customer's pictures, nor could we actually have guessed these were professional vs a good picture. The customer cropped out the identifying marks. We had all seen pictures that looked professional, both in digital and film form. It seems none of that mattered. It wouldn't be Kinko's fault that you photocopy an illegal ad, but they can be party to the fault by allowing it to be sold. Now, the USPS probably has completely different laws protecting it. I'm going to guess it is more likely that they try to get you for mail fraud rather than actually hold the USPS responsible.
- eahman00 8y ago
  >a pharmacy with the self-serve digital photo services ...Why does a pharmacy print photographies? I've never heard of a pharmacy selling something that isn't drugs.
  - Zarel 8y ago
    In the US and many other countries (I can confirm this is true for Japan), pharmacies are also convenience stores, and sell many other things besides drugs. https://www.cvs.com/ https://www.cvs.com/ For instance, here's a US pharmacy chain – notice it mentions photos on the home page.
    - eahman00 8y ago
      "Sorry, our site is unavailable in your country right now." In any case I suppose it's a cultural thing. I've seen in the US they have ads for really invasive drugs on the telly, so I suppose Americans visit pharmacies all the time, that's why they became convenience stores? Or maybe the other way around, they are convenience stores so they can get Americans to buy drugs more often? Anyway, offtopic.
      - bardworx 8y ago
        In search of continues growth, pharmacies in the US had to expand their offerings. Since someone will go there to get their prescription filled or pick up some Asprin, it makes sense to start selling vitamins, then some household essentials, and before you know it Walgreens is selling fruits and veggies. Pictures being printed in pharmacies have been around since 90s, at least.
        deleted 8y ago
        [deleted]
      - dralley 8y ago
        The "invasive ads", while really shitty, are for prescription-only drugs, and it's the drug companies behind those, not the pharmacies. You can't just walk into a pharmacy to get those drugs. They're "convenience stores" in the sense that they also sell things like soap, laundry detergent, toothbrushes/toothpaste/floss/mouthwash, paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc. It has nothing to do with getting people to buy more drugs, it's just another thing to sell. Stores in the US tend to be bigger and stand alone, so if you've got a sizable building you want to fill it with something to sell.

thisiszilff 8y ago

I don't think it's the ad, per say, but the agreement for delivery. It's be like you sending housing ads and asking USPS to only deliver them to men. USPS would probably be on the hook then as well. Back to your point though, it is a new domain because with your paper examples there is no one who can "undo" the illegal ad. You copy it at Kinko's and it's not like Kinko's is out there delivering it with you. With online platforms, they both Target and deliver these ads and are responsible for continually delivering them.

jahewson 8y ago

What a dumb question. No, of course it’s not. If you ask USPS to display your illegal ad in their window then it certainly is their fault. That would be an actually comparable situation here.

mirimir 8y ago
Well, there was a criminal case against FedEx for delivering illegal prescriptions from Internet drug stores. But it got tossed.
- fit2rule 8y ago
  Is FedEx marketing itself to drug distributors as a way to filter out the chaff and get straight to the drug users of highest value? I think not.

Broken_Hippo 8y ago

Sometimes. They sold it to you. Example: I worked at a pharmacy with the self-serve digital photo services. A customer brought in a CD and made christmas cards from a family picture. It turns out the picture was taken by a local photographer the customer had hired. The pharmacy I worked at got the legal notice. Supposedly, we were partly to blame since we profited off of the cards the customer printed. Nevermind the fact that we didn't generally check the customer's pictures, nor could we actually have guessed these were professional vs a good picture. The customer cropped out the identifying marks. We had all seen pictures that looked professional, both in digital and film form. It seems none of that mattered. It wouldn't be Kinko's fault that you photocopy an illegal ad, but they can be party to the fault by allowing it to be sold. Now, the USPS probably has completely different laws protecting it. I'm going to guess it is more likely that they try to get you for mail fraud rather than actually hold the USPS responsible.

eahman00 8y ago
>a pharmacy with the self-serve digital photo services ...Why does a pharmacy print photographies? I've never heard of a pharmacy selling something that isn't drugs.
- Zarel 8y ago
  In the US and many other countries (I can confirm this is true for Japan), pharmacies are also convenience stores, and sell many other things besides drugs. https://www.cvs.com/ https://www.cvs.com/ For instance, here's a US pharmacy chain – notice it mentions photos on the home page.
  - eahman00 8y ago
    "Sorry, our site is unavailable in your country right now." In any case I suppose it's a cultural thing. I've seen in the US they have ads for really invasive drugs on the telly, so I suppose Americans visit pharmacies all the time, that's why they became convenience stores? Or maybe the other way around, they are convenience stores so they can get Americans to buy drugs more often? Anyway, offtopic.
    - bardworx 8y ago
      In search of continues growth, pharmacies in the US had to expand their offerings. Since someone will go there to get their prescription filled or pick up some Asprin, it makes sense to start selling vitamins, then some household essentials, and before you know it Walgreens is selling fruits and veggies. Pictures being printed in pharmacies have been around since 90s, at least.
      - deleted 8y ago
        [deleted]
    - dralley 8y ago
      The "invasive ads", while really shitty, are for prescription-only drugs, and it's the drug companies behind those, not the pharmacies. You can't just walk into a pharmacy to get those drugs. They're "convenience stores" in the sense that they also sell things like soap, laundry detergent, toothbrushes/toothpaste/floss/mouthwash, paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc. It has nothing to do with getting people to buy more drugs, it's just another thing to sell. Stores in the US tend to be bigger and stand alone, so if you've got a sizable building you want to fill it with something to sell.