Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles; site ea.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!ea!mwm From: mwm@ea.UUCP Newsgroups: net.micro Subject: Re: More on Software policy - (nf) Message-ID: <7100011@ea.UUCP> Date: Wed, 16-May-84 10:28:00 EDT Article-I.D.: ea.7100011 Posted: Wed May 16 10:28:00 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 19-May-84 00:45:37 EDT References: <12200@sri-arpa.UUCP> Lines: 27 Articleüÿ.D.: ea.7100011 Nf-ID: #R:sri-arpa:-1220000:ea:7100011:000:962 Nf-From: ea!mwm May 16 09:28:00 1984 #R:sri-arpa:-1220000:ea:7100011:000:962 ea!mwm May 16 09:28:00 1984 /***** ea:net.micro / sri-arpa!ARPA / 1:15 pm May 9, 1984 */ From: Gail Zacharias Date: 6 Apr 84 10:49:36-PST (Fri) From: decvax!mcnc!ecsvax!dmimi at Ucb-Vax.ARPA ... It is evident that pirating software IS stealing ... People keep saying this. It is not at all evident to me. It is clear that it is illegal to make copies of copyrighted material beyond the fair use provisions, but the law is not the final authority on morality. /* ---------- */ The law may not be the final authority on morality, but theft isn't a violation of someones moral rights, it's a violation of their property rights. The law IS the final authority on property rights. Hence pirating software is stealing. Other than that, I agree with what Gail has to say: free software leads to people improving the software, as opposed to rewriting it. Witness what happened to Small C. However, that isn't sufficient grounds for breaking the law.