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From: zvs@bby.oz.au (Zev Sero)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: Re: Feedback on Computer Crime - Apology
Message-ID: <1990Aug16.072922.26029@melba.bby.oz.au>
Date: 16 Aug 90 07:29:22 GMT
References: <90224.202102POPOVICH@ucf1vm.cc.ucf.edu>
	<9008131552.AA27315@world.std.com>
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In-Reply-To: bzs@world.std.com's message of 13 Aug 90 15:52:30 GMT

In article <9008131552.AA27315@world.std.com> bzs@world.std.com (Barry Shein) writes:

   As an analogy, imagine if some broadcast radio or tv station
   programming could be "stolen" by anyone by merely tuning in that
   channel? I realize that this is a problem with satellite dishes,
   but again the analogy is strained in that case by the prerequisite
   of a thousand or more dollars in satellite dish etc equipment.

   The ease of copying a floppy begs a clear analogy, and the analogy is
   far more clear if we stick to the simple case of anyone with a cheap
   radio being considered criminal for merely turning to a station on the
   dial without paying some fee.

   There's no doubt that this can be argued as immoral or even illegal.


In Australia until the mid 70s you needed a license to own a radio or
TV set.  The proceeds from license fees (annually renewable) went to
fund the ABC.  I believe that in the UK this is still the case.  It is
illegal to tune in to *any* station, not just the BBC, without paying
a fee to the BBC.  Wierd, but not illegal, and I don't recall any
major public outcry about its immorality.
--
				Zev Sero  -  zvs@bby.oz.au
Violence is not a pleasant thing. It has caused much suffering in the world
since its invention, and many are convinced that it is Quite A Bad Thing.
					- Steven Megachiropter Foster