Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ncis.tis.llnl.gov!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ucbvax!pro-generic.cts.com!sysop
From: sysop@pro-generic.cts.com (Matthew Montano)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Piracy (once again)
Message-ID: <8905210416.AA00210@crash.cts.com>
Date: 20 May 89 14:26:28 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: pnet01!pro-simasd!pro-generic!sysop@nosc.mil
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 41

> I think the original posting on piracy indicated a general inability of 
> the poster to get original software, because of the small Apple market
> in Canada.

  Just because software is not availible doesn't make piracy any more
"allowable". Other than the fact that software IS readily availible in Canada
just the same way as it is in the US but in different proportions. I also take
deep offence to the phrase "out there" or "up there". Something like 60-70% of
our population lives south of the 49th parrallel (pull out a map), and it
isn't cold! :).

  It is more of an issue on how to control the piracy problem. Piracy is well
defined and very clear. I can get most any piece of software I want, working
in a computer store, with access to reams of software catalogs and three day
shipping times or less. But generally software is not that easily attainable
and as a result there is a lot of illegal distribution. In countries where
imports are restricted for foreign currency or other political restrictions
there exists a huge black market. Countries like Guyuna (in South America)
have a huge black market trade for motors - gasoline or electric, not that
there are neccessarily required but there is a demand. The same with software,
even in the 'good ol US of A (I really HATE that phrase), software can be
sometimes hard to get a hold of. The solution I believe is to increase the
accessibility to software and it seems that the only way to feasible do this
is to make Mail Order houses slightly more regulated or trustworthy. Many of
these places have large amounts of software and good prices, but after
numerous horror stories of mail order, many people are weary.

  Mind you, you still will get the typical pirate who pirates the game
anyways. (easily identifiable in a computer store by asking the phrase "do you
have any manuals for Lotus 1-2-3", or "We lost the manuals for XXXX game, can
we photocopy yours").

Just my opinion. Oh, for those that think canada is cold, Edmonton may of had
25 centimetres of snow but it is a balmy 20 degrees celsius here for the past
week (80 degrees F or more).

Matthew - sysop of the second canadian proline system
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