What to do about loyal subscribers to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer now that their newspaper no longer exists? If you're the Seattle Times Company, which, under a joint operating agreement between the two newspapers, was printing and delivering the P-I anyway, it's both a problem and an opportunity. Somewhere high in the company's chain of command, a shrewd businessperson must have looked at this situation said: "Hey, why not slip them a Seattle Times instead?"

Because that's exactly what the Times is doing.

Unless they call and opt out, Seattle Post-Intelligencer subscribers will be getting copies of the Seattle Times for the remainder of their subscriptions—and, who knows, perhaps even longer if the struggling Times thinks it will help boost its readership. "We've had a great response," said Times spokeswoman Jill Mackie.

But it's clear the positive response to the program is far from unanimous. Loyal P-I readers have complained, called the Times to say they want the P-I or nothing at all, and even wondered if the substitution is legal. "If I subscribe to the P-I, I signed up for the P-I, not the Times," said Seattle attorney David Osgood. "There's an implied and an expressed contract."

Mackie wouldn't get into the legal chapter and verse. She also wouldn't say how many people have stopped delivery of the Times under the new scheme (though she said it was a small minority). But she did say the Times sees things differently from those raising the specter of illegal business practices. "We feel comfortable that we're in full compliance with the law," she said.

But how does the state attorney general's office, which investigates complaints about illegal business practices, feel?

"I'm not able to answer your question regarding, 'Is this legal or is this not legal,'" said Kristen Alexander, media-relations officer for state attorney general Rob McKenna. However, the AG's office "is not concerned provided that subscribers have the option to cancel, which they do," Alexander said.

Those who wish to cancel can't do it online, though. While you can easily subscribe to the Times online, to keep it from coming to your house automatically if you were a former P-I subscriber, you must call 464-2121 or e-mail customerservice@seattletimes.com.

Stranger news editor Erica C. Barnett contributed reporting.