Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!sundc!netxcom!ewiles
From: ewiles@netxcom.UUCP (Edwin Wiles)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: lotus chairman makes 26 million
Message-ID: <807@netxcom.UUCP>
Date: 29 Apr 88 13:03:06 GMT
References: <9160@cisunx.UUCP> <1801@uhccux.UUCP>
Reply-To: ewiles@netxcom.UUCP (Edwin Wiles)
Organization: NetExpress Communications, Inc., Vienna, VA
Lines: 53

In article <1801@uhccux.UUCP> lee@uhccux.UUCP (Greg Lee) writes:
>From article <9160@cisunx.UUCP>, by mike@cisunx.UUCP (Mike  Elliot):
>" ...			 I on the other hand see this and any other
>" stealing as being not only illegal but also immoral.  One can't justify
>" stealing on the grounds that the person one steals from has more than he
>" deserves.  Stealing is stealing, no matter from whom it was appropriated.
>
>Sure one can.  And one can't show that stealing is never justified
>by stating a tautology.


I would be interested in knowing what Mike Elliot thinks of the "Robin Hood"
figure, who stole from the rich and gave to the poor.  Would he be in favor
of the Sherrif?  Or does he, as most people I know, support the theives.

I doubt that Mike has really thought this through.  But, I'm willing to ask!

As I see it, the cases are parallel, though different in that the Lotus
Chairman could not be described as classically 'bad', as the Sherrif could.
(Greedy maybe, but not inherently 'bad'.)

And in case you think I'm being frivolous, I'm not.  I would like to see
more discussion on exactly WHY copying software is 'wrong/right'.  Here are 
some ideas on it:

Copying Software is Wrong Because:

1. The people who wrote it have to make a living, and if you copy their
software without paying for it, you are effectively stealing their income.
(Kind of like cuting off a peice of their paycheck before it gets to them.)

Copying Software is Right Because:

1. The people who wrote it are charging so much for it that I can't afford
it, yet I really need it.  (A rather lame argument.)

2. The people who wrote it are greedy so-and-so's who charge 200% more than
the product is actually worth, so I'm reducing that profit margin to something
more reasonable.  (Not much better.)

3. Software is not tangible property, so when I copy it (like taking a
picture of a waterfall) I do not 'take' anything; therefore I am not
stealing.  (Has possibilities, but would also apply to things like sci.
theories.  Not a good defense.)

I'd put more into the discussion, but I've got to do some work now... :-)

						Enjoy!
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