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From: david@sun.uucp (David DiGiacomo)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.d
Subject: Re: v11INF3:  Poll on copyrights
Message-ID: <31218@sun.uucp>
Date: Mon, 19-Oct-87 12:38:18 EDT
Article-I.D.: sun.31218
Posted: Mon Oct 19 12:38:18 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Oct-87 20:44:23 EDT
References: <4899@ncoast.UUCP> <31209@sun.uucp>
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc. - Mtn View, CA
Lines: 23

In article <31209@sun.uucp> chuq@sun.UUCP (Chuq Von Rospach) writes:
>>Just because someone places a restriction on something doesn't mean it
>>has to be followed. I have no qualms about doing anything I damn well
>>please with any piece of software I get my hands on.
>
>By the same right, this means that if I want to borrow your car for some
>drag racing (even if it happens to be locked) I should feel free, right?
>Just because you don't want me to, well, that doesn't mean anything.
>
>Or, say, I need some more CPU cycles. Your machine has a modem. If I can get
>past your password restrictions, I have the perfect right to use YOUR
>machine and YOUR software any way I want. Who cares what restrictions you
>want on it. I'll do anything I damn well want with it. If I happen to need
>more disk space than you have available, well, that's okay -- you didn't
>need those files anyway.

Neither analogy is relevant.  In the case of physical objects such as a
car or computer, there is the possibility of damage caused by the
borrower, or that the owner would unexpectedly need to use the object
and find it unavailable.  As has been pointed out by others, software is
unlike physical objects in that it can be copied indefinitely with no
degradation, and at no cost.  If I post software to the net, nothing
Root Boy does to it will affect my subsequent enjoyment of it.