Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!pt.cs.cmu.edu!o.gp.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!tmab+ From: tmab+@andrew.cmu.edu (Thomas Mok) Newsgroups: comp.sys.next Subject: Re: Boycott NeXT offerings that include a free copy of Lotus Improv Message-ID: Date: 21 Oct 90 19:09:51 GMT References: <123663@linus.mitre.org> Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 21 In-Reply-To: <123663@linus.mitre.org> Now, let me get this straight. Lotus is giving out their Improv to NeXT purchases and upgrades made before the end of the year. You want to boycott Lotus, and ask people not to buy NeXT until next year. Does that hurt NeXT more than it hurts Lotus? Moreover, even if everyone turns down the offer, what will Lotus lose? They just didn't give out as many free copies as they should! Quite frankly, I don't think boycotting is a solution. The root of software patents and copyrights is in the law itself. To solve this problem, you should get people to plea to their congressmen to rule out software patents altogether. There is an article on software patents in this month's issue of Dr. Dobb's Journal. It should supplement what you've read in the CACM. Lastly, so what if Lotus goes out of business? So what if Apple goes out of business? Will the problem be solved? - Tom Mok