Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ncis.tis.llnl.gov!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ucbvax!SENECA.BITNET!STEVENS From: STEVENS@SENECA.BITNET Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple Subject: re: RE: Piracy and EVPs Message-ID: <8905202322.aa14777@SMOKE.BRL.MIL> Date: 21 May 89 03:22:00 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The Internet Lines: 56 From: info-apple@BRL.MIL To: MURRAY STEVENS CC: Subj: re: RE: Piracy and EVPs >> 19 May 89 18:21:53 EDT from >> >> The car analogy has another flaw - if the price of one car is too >>expensive you can buy a cheaper one because once you know how to drive >>one car you can drive others. This doesn't hold true for software. You >>have to start using new commands and even new operating systems - so >>software users don't exactly have as much choice in moving, say, to a >>lower cost spreadsheet. >The first time I saw 1-2-3 I hit the '/' key (what the heck, it worked in >VisiCalc so it was worth a shot) and 'voila' (as it were). I COULD still >"drive" :-) * Some lines deleted * >Equating cars and software IS stretching things some (stealing cars is >a felony which you're local district attorney will prosecute -- the taxpayers >pay the tab -- * more lines deleted* >Anyone who wants to try and rationalize theft on the basis of not being >wealthy can't expect much sympathy (poverty MEANS you CAN'T have it!!). >Murph Sewall Vaporware? ---> [Gary Larson returns 1/1/90] >Prof. of Marketing Sewall@UConnVM.BITNET Well written, Murph. No wonder your a Prof. :-) One point though. I don't think that most people (including myself) were trying to rationalize Piracy, I think they were tring to Understand or explain WHY people commit the crime. There is also an interesting sidebar to all this. Please correct me if I'm wrong for it was a while ago this happened. A long time ago in a galaxy not so far away.... Visicalc was the first (Most popular anyways) spread sheet program. Then along came Lotus 1-2-3 (an exact duplicate albeit more powerfull) (no wonder, Murph, You could push "/" and get the same results) Well, Visicorp didn't like this one bit (does this sound a little like Piracy?) So they sued! KEEP in mind this all happened b4 the "look and feel" judgement. and software copywrite laws WERE in there infancy. To avoid the insuing lawsuit and settlement, Lotus did the HONORABLE thing they BOUGHT Visicorp! (neat trick eh?) BUT then there was SUPERcalc! hmmm well Lotus being Lotus.. they sued Supercalc. (of all the cheek!) I never did here the outcome of that one, BUT it sure gives food for thought on the whole Piracy issue doesn't it! DISCLAMER: it really did happen a while ago and my facts on company names and sequence of events maybe a little wrong, but this all DID happen. If anyone can correct (and I'm sure they will :-} ) or support me. Feel free! Murray Stevens@Seneca * hey KID! you wanna buy some C.P.M? * ... cheap ...