> but what if - as an entire List - we approached the
> right VW magnate and suggested they make the EKTA cd available online only
> for vanagon list subscribers

You do not appreciate how VW works. You would have absolutely zero chance of
convincing them to allow you to do this. Believe me, you would not find a
sympathetic ear.  Far from allowing access to proprietary copyrighted
information, Volkswagen has actually been known to go after enthusiasts and
clubs simply for infringing on their logos. You are not dealing with a small
company or a group of enthusiasts here, but a huge international corporation
that vigorously defends its copyrights without making exceptions for small
clubs or groups of people. All you would succeed in doing is to draw
attention to the fact that some listmembers have pirated copies, a situation
which they would most certainly bring to the attention of their legal team,
which actively polices violation of their copyrights.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215) 234-VWVW