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From: bet@ecsvax.UUCP (Bennett E. Todd III)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Your software rights are in danger
Message-ID: <989@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 27-Dec-85 09:55:11 EST
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.989
Posted: Fri Dec 27 09:55:11 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Dec-85 13:24:52 EST
References: <826@brl-tgr.ARPA> <2660@sunybcs.UUCP>
Reply-To: duccpc!bet@ecsvax.UUCP (Bennett E. Todd III)
Distribution: net
Organization: Duke University Computation Center
Lines: 21


It has been said before in this forum, but allow me to repeat: as long
as the laws aren't forcing you to buy the software, then don't worry so
much about the laws themselves; instead, boycott those companies that
use abusive licensing agreements, or copy protection. Ideally, we should
all boycott sponsors of legislation that renders software exempt from
consumer protection laws (anybody have a list of ADAPSO members to post?).

Better still, go out of your way to take your trade to software
companies that show some concern for their customers; letters to
companies which you are avoiding might also be a good idea. As long as
we are permitted to choose which software we will buy, restrictive
licensing agreements can be considered flaws in the packages. A vendor
who denies me the reasonable permissions granted under the "fair use"
terms of copyright law is offering a package that isn't fairly useable.

-Bennett
-- 

Bennett Todd -- Duke Computation Center, Durham, NC 27706-7756; (919) 684-3695
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