Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:9487 comp.misc:12513 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!dali.cs.montana.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!unixhub!stanford.edu!agate!ucbvax!hplabs!pyramid!lstowell From: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.misc Subject: Re: Data-PCS (Apple) Petition - Please Comment! Message-ID: <154997@pyramid.pyramid.com> Date: 10 May 91 19:23:35 GMT Sender: daemon@pyramid.pyramid.com Reply-To: lstowell@pyramid.com Distribution: usa Organization: Personal Opinion Only. Lines: 71 >In article <52469@apple.Apple.COM>, bsteven@Apple.COM (Bill Stevens) writes: >> . . . >> If created, Data-PCS will enable all computer >> manufacturers to produce high performance wireless communications products >> for the United States. >> . . . > In article <1991May9.214446.818@iowasp.physics.uiowa.edu> granroth@iowasp.physics.uiowa.edu (Larry Granroth) writes: >The article goes on to point out the wonderful benefits of this great new >idea that Apple has come up with, and includes a form letter for computer >users to send to the chairman of the FCC supporting Apple's petition >for radio bandwidth. > >Now, it seems to me that posting such a thing to comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc >was just asking for some less-than-gracious replies. I couldn't help >myself. I replied with a somewhat modified version of their form >letter suggesting that, judging from recent history, Apple's motives >should be assumed to be more monopolistic than altruistic. I wondered >how long it would be before Apple was sueing HAM packet radio operators >for patent infringement. I didn't give the whole thing more thought >than the time it took to type it in, and the result was (I thought) >obviously frivolous. > >Apple's well-known legal department didn't agree. Both the chairman >of my department and the departmental computer system manager have been >subjected to lengthy discussions concerning the wisdom of my representing >the University of Iowa. (Silly me. Not only did I forget to include >the smiley, but forgot the standard disclaimer line.) None of this >is going to cause me any difficulty, but I was wondering if anyone else >has been receiving such personalized attention to their comments. >Have any of you who have submitted positive comments had your credentials >verified by phone calls from Apple representatives? So it is perfectly moral and legal, in the minds of the Applelawyers, for THEM to misuse the 'net to create a mailing campaign to further THEIR selfish interests...yet these sleazebags use legal talent (oxymoron) to harass other net posters twitting their posting? This is really a pretty ugly precedent for a net subscriber to attempt to set. Perhaps a petition movement to have Apple's net access removed is in order? Seriously, if their legal beagles attempted to harass you for a public posting on the net, it would appear that complaints to internet appear in order....before Apple becomes the Big Brother on the net! (There are NO smiley's here....this is really a pretty ugly thing for a net subscriber to attempt, IMHO. ) I've always had a personal prejudice against Apple for their smug and litiginous attitude, but this tends to make it more militant. BTW, does Apple still HAVE an R+D staff, or have their offices all been taken over by the lawyers? >:-) (THAT was a smiley...it is a JOKE..in case you are too thick to get it...) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Obligatory Disclaimer. These are PERSONAL opinions only. They in no way represent any official or otherwise opinion of my employer...!!! _________________________________________________________________