Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!mips!sgi!karsh@trifolium.esd.sgi.com
From: karsh@trifolium.esd.sgi.com (Bruce Karsh)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: NEW FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED TO ENCOURAGE COMPUTER-BASED COMMUNICATIONS POLICIES
Message-ID: <64160@sgi.sgi.com>
Date: 15 Jul 90 09:34:14 GMT
References: <5122@fernwood.mpk.ca.us> <1421@pta.oz.au> <1968@runxtsa.runx.oz.au>
Sender: karsh@trifolium.esd.sgi.com
Reply-To: karsh@trifolium.sgi.com (Bruce Karsh)
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc., Mountain View, CA
Lines: 22

>If Mitch is so concerned to protect freedom of 'communication in
>the electronic age' poerhaps he could start by pressing on his
>company (Lotus) to stop sueing enveryone who thinks that 'P' is
>a good command for 'Print you spreadsheet'.

Is Mitch Kapor still at Lotus?

Why is it that some programmers think it's a good idea to plagiarize other's
work.  The Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet is old stuff and it's time to do new
things.  If Lotus has a copyright on its look and feel, then instead of
copying it, why not make something that's truely better.

It's tiring to see the same old programs over and over.  Print authors are
able to write new books despite copyright.  Why can't programmers?

Is cap-P really the best way to print a spreadsheet?  Is the argument that
they copied just cap-P, or is it that they copied practically the entire
user interface?  Why defend copying when there's so many new software
products which could be written, but aren't?

			Bruce Karsh
			karsh@sgi.com