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From: foessmei@lan.informatik.tu-muenchen.dbp.de (Reinhard Foessmeier)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: New Communicational Morality
Summary: Discussion: Should SW be copyrighted? and other topics
Keywords: software, copyright, society
Message-ID: <754@infovax.lan.informatik.tu-muenchen.dbp.de>
Date: 3 Apr 89 09:51:59 GMT
Reply-To: foessmei@infovax.informatik.tu-muenchen.dbp.de (Reinhard Foessmeier)
Organization: Inst. fuer Informatik, TU Muenchen, FR Germany
Lines: 63


During its General Assembly in september 1988, the International Academy
of Sciences of San Marino (AIS) decided to stimulate discussion about copyright
on software and printed material.  In the meantime, Helmar Frank 
has published a proposal which (among other things) suggests that software
is no "ware" in the ordinary sense of the word, and that therefore any copyright
should be abolished.

Frank's theses appeared in the proceedings of the AIS conference held at
Eupen (Belgium) in december 1988, titled "Kommunikation -- mit Rechnern, durch
Rechner, ohne Rechner" (German, summaries in French and ILo), published by
"Verlag Modernes Lernen".  I have tried to translate the summary and
post it below.

If there are reactions (e-mail to me -- gladly in German), I shall forward
them to Helmar Frank (currently no e-mail) and also summarize on the net.
BTW, can anyone think of a more specific newsgroup this might go into?
What about soc.communic.impact or soc.software.copyright? :-)

Detailed reactions are welcome, but if anybody simply wishes to express
approval or disapproval, he/she is free to award the following three
maxims each a mark between -3 (full disapproval) and +3 (full consent).
(Integer marks, please, anything else will be rounded!)

Reinhard Foessmeier, Technische Universitaet Muenchen
<foessmeier@infovax.informatik.tu-muenchen.dbp.de>
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Perspectives of a New Communicational Morality for the Cybernetical Era
			Helmar Frank

Due to progress in cybernetical technology, information is piling up
and its exchange and processing is speeding up to a such degree that the
principles of traditional communicational morality are shaking.  Three
maxims of a new communicational morality seem to be more adequate for the
cybernetical era.

1. In the field of art and technology, not only the pollution of the natural
   (material) environment must be fought but also -- and with the same effort
   -- the pollution of the cultural (informational) environment. In a nutshell:
   Culture conservation is as important as nature conservation.
   ["Maxim of rejection of informational pollution"]

2. The development of international scientific communication with the goal of
   future advances is more important than short-sighted, frantic acceleration
   of present advances in any special branch.  In a nutshell:  Advances for
   future communication are more important than communication of present
   advances.  ["Maxim of the priority of the communication process"]

3. The cultural community of the International Language, conscious that to
   commun-icate means to "make common", should be a pioneer on the road to
   informational commun-ism and a model to promote abolition of the anti-
   cultural laws based on the superstition of "soft-ware". In a nutshell:
   Copyright is a superstition hostile to civilization.  ["Maxim of
   non-commercialization of culture"]

In september 1988 the AIS decided at San Marino to open an international
discussion about a new communicational morality.  The above maxims are to
be considered as a contribution to this discussion.
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-- 
Reinhard F\"ossmeier, Technische Univ. M\"unchen |        "Matena horo
foessmeier@infovax.informatik.tu-muenchen.dbp.de |  estas plena je kapdoloro"
   [ { relay.cs.net | unido.uucp } ]             |         (Zamenhof)