Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site brl-tgr.ARPA
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!brl-tgr!tgr!decvax!genrad!enmasse!maynard!campbell@DECWRL.ARPA
From: campbell@DECWRL.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Software License Bill - California
Message-ID: <10800@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 17-May-85 20:24:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.10800
Posted: Fri May 17 20:24:39 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 19-May-85 07:42:01 EDT
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
Lines: 30

I am a founder and vice president of a software house, and I think
this bill stinks.

The problem is that most people, even the honest ones, either don't
bother to read the fine print or ignore it.  They make backup copies,
maybe even (gasp!) patch Lotus so they can run it off a hard disk without
tying up a floppy drive, etc.

Today, these (honest) people have nothing to fear, because the only
legal implications are civil, not criminal.  If Lotus doesn't like
your patching 1-2-3, they have to find you, then sue you.  And they'd lose.
No software vendor has EVER sued a legitimate user who technically violated
a license agreement for legitimate (backup, say) purposes.  And I'd bet
serious money they'd be laughed out of court if they tried.

This bill, however, legislates CRIMINAL penalties for such license
violations.  That means that all these well-meaning people who are
just following prudent computing practices (making backups) would now be
CRIMINALS, and Lotus doesn't even have to sue -- they can call the cops.

In fact, it doesn't have to be Lotus.  Your neighbor, colleague,
ex-spouse, or disgruntled employee, ex-spouse could call the cops.

This bill deserves to die a quick and merciful death.

- Larry Campbell
  The Boston Software Works, Inc.
  120 Fulton St., Boston MA 02109
UUCP: {decvax, security, linus, mit-eddie}!genrad!enmasse!maynard!campbell
ARPA: decvax!genrad!enmasse!maynard!campbell@DECWRL.ARPA