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From: sde@mitre-bedford.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Pirates and some wrong ideas that are going around.
Message-ID: <9653@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 1-Apr-85 11:53:51 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.9653
Posted: Mon Apr  1 11:53:51 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 7-Apr-85 10:39:05 EST
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
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The nature of software piracy is that of "theft of service". For those
who've never heard the term, it is the offense committed by someone who, e.g.
rides a train without permission (normally granted through ticket purchase).
It clearly does not add much to the effort of moving a train, but also clearly
deprives the train owner(s) of revenue and at its base violates the basic
property rights inherent in ownership. Therefore, piracy is, in fact, theft,
despite declamations to the contrary. By the way, for those who find nothing
wrong in copying tapes or discs, since the original is undamaged, how about
someone copying, say your doctor's or lawyer's records. If there is no right
to limit distribution to those authorized, then the latter is just as
justifiable.

David   sde@mitre-bedford