Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!mips!prls!philabs!linus!nixbur!nixpbe!peun11!josef From: josef@nixpbe.UUCP (Moellers) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc Subject: Re: Why do people pirate software? Message-ID: Date: 22 Aug 90 12:59:57 GMT References: <19089016:24:58KRW1@lehigh.bitnet> <6526@milton.u.washington.edu> Sender: news@nixpbe.UUCP Distribution: usa Lines: 44 In <6526@milton.u.washington.edu> ashing@milton.u.washington.edu (Al Shing) writes: [stuff deleted] >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). >When a law is unenforceable, and blatantly violated by the public at large >then it is a bad law, and should be eliminated. >Let's face it - it does no good to argue about the right and wrongness of >copying software. People do it because the current software copyright and >licensing policies are nonsensical, and cannot be enforced. People also >see the laws as a reflection of greed on the part of the software writers, >and thus feel no remorse in copying and distributing a $500 software >package. >The people who have been arguing moralistically about violating copyrights >are technically correct under the law, but awfully naive about human nature. >I assume that these people religiously drive at 55 mph where posted. If not, >then they are in violation of the law. As criminals, do they have the right >to throw stones at others? Some time ago, I read an article covering the US's progress in fighting drugs, especially preventing drugs to enter the US. The article concluded that the battle was as good as lost. From what I read above, I would conclude, that Mr. Shing would agree that we legalize drugs, just because the governments fail in fighting it. To add to the list: How about - polluting the environment, - corruption, - crime in general? No. We can't give in to those who think that law is there to break it. -- | Josef Moellers | c/o Nixdorf Computer AG | | USA: mollers.pad@nixbur.uucp | Abt. PXD-S14 | | !USA: mollers.pad@nixpbe.uucp | Heinz-Nixdorf-Ring | | Phone: (+49) 5251 104662 | D-4790 Paderborn |