Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!bbn!bbn.com!cosell
From: cosell@bbn.com (Bernie Cosell)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Looking for sample software ethics documents
Message-ID: <37421@bbn.COM>
Date: 19 Mar 89 04:59:01 GMT
References: <3720@phri.UUCP>
Sender: news@bbn.COM
Reply-To: cosell@BBN.COM (Bernie Cosell)
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Lines: 43

In article <3720@phri.UUCP> roy@phri.UUCP (Roy Smith) writes:
}
}	The place where I work has a problem with pirating of software.
}The semi-official word is that it's OK to not only covet your neighbor's
}software but to copy it.  This goes as far as my being told that we simply
}will not buy multiple copies of software for our multiple "public"
}Macintoshes.   ...
}
}	Anyway, I need advice on two matters.  First is what sort of
}arguments might I use to convince the administration that pirating is bad?
}Arguments of "it's illegal" usually result in "but I don't see what's
}*wrong* with it" or "I don't think it violates the spirit of copyright if I
}just make a copy to use on my Mac at home", or "we'll never get caught".  I
}have been asked to set up peoples' new Macintoshes and told, regarding the
}software, "no, we're not going to buy a copy, but you won't have to be
}directly involved in the copying so don't worry about it".

The simple answer is that NO argument I've ever seen works even a little bit.
Except one: Call Microsoft, or whoever it is that publishes Excel or anyone,
and have *their*lawyers* call one of the VPs at your company.  Threat of a
lawsuit works *real* fast!  My experience is the corporate executives are VERY
short on the ethics-for-the-sake-of-ethics gene, but "better stop or we'll
sue your shorts off" DOES get tehir attention!

}
}	On the other hand, if people feel that I'm getting all bent out of
}shape about something which is not only beyond my control, but beyond my
}legal or ethical responsibility to worry about, feel free to tell me that
}too (but please be nice about it).

Well, I'm not all that well liked on this kind of score here at BBN, but I
think that being a pain in the ass is, in the large, the better position.  I,
for one, can't abide the "see no evil" stance.  Depending on your relationship
with the powers-that-be, you might not have to actually "turn them in": you
could, instead, simply *threaten* to, and point out the consequences [that is
usually the position I can get away with at BBN, 'cause I'm pretty good friends
with enough of the "suits" to be able to get my voice heard... especially if it
is warning them away froma lawsuit! :-)

   __
  /  )                              Bernie Cosell
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