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From: reiher@ucla-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d
Subject: Re: Dave Berry Copyrights Flame
Message-ID: <5622@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 22-May-85 17:12:41 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucla-cs.5622
Posted: Wed May 22 17:12:41 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 27-May-85 06:34:09 EDT
References: <3026@dartvax.UUCP> <226@ucbcad.UUCP> <3065@dartvax.UUCP> <242@ucbcad.UUCP>
Reply-To: reiher@ucla-cs.UUCP (Peter Reiher)
Distribution: net
Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department
Lines: 35

In article <242@ucbcad.UUCP> faustus@ucbcad.UUCP (Wayne A. Christopher) writes:
>Also, since the posting of somebody else's
>copywrited stuff couldn't possibly effect you, you shouldn't have any
>reason to cause trouble for the poster. When you write stuff and have
>it published without your consent, then you can complain.

I can think of at least two good reasons to complain when someone posts
copyrighted material, even if you don't hold the copyright.  First, allowing
one person to compromise copyright laws makes it more likely that others will
do so.  Therefore, even if my stuff isn't getting ripped off, the copyright
violation may be harming me by weakening the general public's belief in the
protections of copyright.  Second, there is the brother's keeper argument.
If I see someone breaking into my absent neighbor's house and walking off with
his goods, might it not be a good idea to remonstrate with the thief, suggesting
to him that what he is doing is wrong?  (Of course, a far better idea might be
to call the police, but consider instead the case of boys breaking my
neighbor's windows with rocks.)  If someone is being wronged, it seems 
reasonable to me that I should do what I can to help him rather than ignoring
it.  If the holders of the copyrights don't object to the articles being
posted, then there is no argument.  If they know about it and choose to do
nothing (perhaps believing that the costs of prosecuting outweigh the benefits),
then the poster is still wrong, in my opinion, but he will get away with it.  
If the holders of the copyrights don't know about the violation, then I see 
absolutely nothing wrong either with informing them or with suggesting to the 
poster that he cease and desist.  Polite suggestions are, of course, preferable.

This leaves totally aside the question of those who are offended when they see 
someone doing something they think wrong.  Some proponents of moral relativism 
seem to think that the only universally wrong thing is objecting to others' 
morals.  I myself do not hold this opinion.  Obviously.
-- 
        			Peter Reiher
        			reiher@ucla-cs.arpa
				soon to be reiher@LOCUS.UCLA.EDA
        			{...ihnp4,ucbvax,sdcrdcf}!ucla-cs!reiher