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From: lukrw@vax1.cc.lehigh.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: Why do people pirate software?
Message-ID: <10270.26d527e3@vax1.cc.lehigh.edu>
Date: 24 Aug 90 17:13:07 GMT
References: <19089016:24:58KRW1@lehigh.bitnet> <6526@milton.u.washington.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Lehigh University
Lines: 17

In article <6526@milton.u.washington.edu>, ashing@milton.u.washington.edu (Al Shing) writes:
> It is also illegal to drive faster than 55 mph.  Yet everyone drives at
> 80 mph around here.  If you drive 55, you will probably be creamed, or
> severely flamed (ie. given the finger).

Thankfully, "Everyone's doing it" has never been much of a defense.

> When a law is unenforceable, and blatantly violated by the public at large
> then it is a bad law, and should be eliminated.  

No, the law isn't bad.  The law is designed to protect (however poorly
designed).  It's the violators who are ALL "bad", no matter how many
people are doing it.  My definition of "bad" in this case being
knowingly causing harm to someone else, or infringing on their rights.

And no, I am not some guardian of public morals.  This is clear-cut
illegality we're talking about.