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From: jholbach@wright.EDU (Jim Holbach)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Software (and other kinds of) copying
Message-ID: <229@wright.EDU>
Date: 24 Jan 88 19:28:21 GMT
References: <21754@yale-celray.yale.UUCP>
Organization: Wright State University, Dayton OH, 45435
Lines: 35

in article <21754@yale-celray.yale.UUCP>, Ram-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu (Ashwin Ram) says:
> 
> In article <6650@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>, mwm@eris (Mike (My watch has windows) Meyer) writes:
>>
>> No, copyright law - or lack thereof - isn't why software gets written.
>> It gets written because people need it, or because they want it. All
>> the copyright laws really do is restrict the distribution of the
>> software once it gets written.
> 
> I don't know if I agree that copyright laws restrict the distribution of
> software though.  The GNU distribution is governed by those same laws, and
> those laws have helped to ensure that the distribution remains free and
> easily accessible to everyone (without random people making money off it).

	Copyright laws don't restrict the distribution of software -
they merely allow the author to decide if he/she will impose any
restrictions on the distribution so as to protect the investment made in
developing the software. It's interesting to me that the same copyright
laws are invoked (and rightfully so) by the shareware developer who wants to
protect his/her good name as by the commercial software developer who
wants to protect a merely :-) economic investment.

	I am amazed at how much discussion the topic of copying
still generates though. It's like a discussion of shop-lifting with some
arguing that it's okay because the store is charging too much and others
saying that it's okay because the house detective is asleep and doesn't
care anyway. It still comes down to theft (yes, Virginia, theft is still
wrong whether or not you get caught....)

	I don't have a problem with copy protected programs either
because I don't buy them and I encourage others to do the same.
And obviously a lot more people feel the same since the use of copy
protection is on the decline. It's *amazing* how that evil capitalist
market-place :-) responds to the desires of the buyer rather than the seller
when there's enough competition.