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From: brendan@batserver.cs.uq.oz.au (Brendan Mahony)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Why do people pirate software?
Message-ID: <4520@uqcspe.cs.uq.oz.au>
Date: 8 Aug 90 04:35:13 GMT
References: <1441fullerr@yvax.byu.edu> <1990Aug2.152426.25372@phri.nyu.edu> <1990Aug3.101831.12438@rbdc> <1990Aug4.172203.22806@phri.nyu.edu>
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roy@phri.nyu.edu (Roy Smith) writes:

>	I don't think it's a matter of software companies ignoring the
>problem, it's just that there is no practical way to enforce it.  Assume
>you are a software company that makes program X.  My friend gives me a hot
>copy of program X which I install on my machine and use on a daily basis.
>Explain how, using whatever resources you like, you are going to find out I
>have a pirate copy.

	[....]

>	It may be logic, but it's not law.  Unless the software copyright
>owner explicitly gives you the right to make additional copies for your
>other machines, you can't.

This brings into question the good sense of those who write these laws.
Unenforcable laws are bad laws. At best they bring into disrepute the
makers and enforcers of the law. I think we will just have to start
accepting that the patterns of production and distribution that work so
well for primary and secondary industries are simplying not serving the
information industry properly. They never have, but until now there has
been small problem because the methods of circumventing the system
(hand copying and even photo-copying) were more expensive than using the
system. This is no longer the case, and it is pointless for people to
sit around weeping and nashing their teeth. We need a new system. We
need new laws. The legitimate production and distribution system must become
cheaper than the alternatives.


--
Brendan Mahony                   | brendan@batserver.cs.uq.oz       
Department of Computer Science   | heretic: someone who disgrees with you
University of Queensland         | about something neither of you knows
Australia                        | anything about.