Electronic publishing and its parent--distance education--is a twenty-first-century hydra for scholars. It seems as if the solution of one problem creates several more problems. The author, using his own experience, presents a taxonomy of ethical conduct for publishers and authors of this genre. Unfortunately, there is a gap--a missing link--in the presentation. Humanism by itself cannot create a scholarly code of conduct.

For a model of ethics to be proposed and adopted, the author and his readers must realize that ultimately we are talking about a moral problem. And until we discuss the problem in terms of morality, the solution will always be murky.

After a very readable introduction, during which the historical roots of the problem are presented, the author presents his value judgments for future standards: trustworthy certification of journal articles by publishers; editorial trust in the authors; preservation of the journal as an open forum; upholding authors’ rights; and independence from government regulation.

The paper is interesting and well written. I would have preferred to see a more classical basis for the arguments proposed.