[cap-talk] Access Control for Beagles (was: Declaring a victory)

[Mark Miller]

On 8/12/07, Cat Okita <cat at reptiles.org> wrote:
> I've gotten utterly lost somewhere in here...  is this about a reasonable
> summary?
>
>         Xavier buys a beagle from Yngvar.
>         Xavier's beagle bites Zachary.
>         Zachary sues Xavier because of how the beagle behaves.
>
>         [ separately ]
>         Xavier should have controlled the beagle somehow, because Xavier
>                 had no idea how the beagle might behave (up to and including
>                 biting Zachary), and is responsible for anything the beagle does?
> [...]
>         Horton allows Zachary to sue Xavier, because Xavier owns the beagle.
>
>         -but-
>
>         Horton also allows Xavier to control his beagle as Xavier sees fit.
> [...]
>         Xavier buys a beagle from Yngvar.
>         Zachary invites Xavier and the beagle to his house.
>         Xavier's beagle bites Zachary.
>
>         [ subsequently ]
>         Because Xavier's beagle bit Zachary, Zachary no longer invites Xavier
>         to his house... (and by extension Xavier's beagle is also no longer
>         invited)

Hi Cat,

Yes, your summaries capture exactly what I was trying to say. Thanks!


> ... or have I completely missed the boat (or had my brain devoured
> by the beagle ;> (and in this case, would there be any responsibility
> acruing to Yngvar, since Yngvar was the source of the misbehaving beagle?))

In the scenario I have in mind, Xavier might very well blame Yngvar.
But that's between Xavier and Yngvar. Zachary still holds only Xavier
responsible.

-- 
Text by me above is hereby placed in the public domain

    Cheers,
    --MarkM