Re: Bambiraptor tedium

["Toby White" <mwhite@houston.rr.com>]

Thanks for your post.  Do you happen to have any citations to any of the
laws involved, or even the years or Code volumes?

I've stayed out of this discussion for lots of reasons, but I'm a lawyer
(and one of my sons reads Italian), so this was too interesting to pass up.

Grazzi. (is that right?)

--Toby White

The Vertebrate Notes at:
http://home.houston.rr.com/vnotes/index.htm and
http://www.dinodata.net


----- Original Message -----
From: "Fabio Marco Dalla Vecchia" <fabdalla@box1.tin.it>
To: <cbrochu@mail.fmnh.org>
Cc: <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2000 12:24 PM
Subject: Bambiraptor tedium


> >>Is the problem the existence of the collector or the complete illegality
> of gathering the fossils?>>
>
> >>Both.  In fact, I am unaware of any country that blanket-prohibits
> collection of any kind; usually, collecting is regulated, but permits are
> obtainable.>>
>
> I know one: Italy.
> Here all the fossils are State property. Even foraminifers. This means
that
> even scientists are not allowed to collect them without a State (therefore
> depending on the politicians and the bureaucrats) permit. You cannot cast
a
> footprint without a permit. Theoretically, you cannot publish a
> scientifical paper regarding an Italian fossil without a State permit. You
> must ask the field work permit before the fall of October and you usually
> receive the answer not before the next May. Privates have no chances to
> obtain this permit. According to the law (a fascist law written in
> 1939)privates with Italian fossils (all fossils, without distinctions) in
> their collections are considered as thievings of public goods.
> But, of course, the State does not protect fossils. No paleontologists in
> the State agency which should protect fossils: only archeologists and
> architects, which does not know what a fossil is and think that dinosaurs
> are just muppets for kids.
>
> So, do not think that your "Bambiraptor" discussion is universal: you are
> merely talking about a your U.S.A. problem, as usual.
>
> Fabio M. Dalla Vecchia
>