Xref: utzoo comp.sys.mac:33215 comp.graphics:6085
Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ukma!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnewsk!ech
From: ech@cbnewsk.ATT.COM (ned.horvath)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac,comp.graphics
Subject: Re: Macintosh ROM Sources
Message-ID: <428@cbnewsk.ATT.COM>
Date: 9 Jun 89 20:09:22 GMT
References: <2801@wheaties.ai.mit.edu>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 47

From article <2801@wheaties.ai.mit.edu>, by wolfe@wheaties.ai.mit.edu (John V. Wolfe):
> A guy here at the MIT AI lab got a disk in the mail with no return
> address.  It contained a README file (included here), the TeachText
> application, and a Stuffit archive containing some source code.  The
> listing of the filenames in the archive are included after the text of
> the read-me file.  Makes for very interesting reading.
...
[ excerpts from the README file ]
>       The file called "Rom Src (Stuffit)" contains the complete
> assembly language source to both Color QuickDraw and all
> the hardware Equate files for the various Macintoshes ROMs.
...
>       The next mailing will consist of the complete source to the
> hierarchical filing system and all the device drivers.   Over
> several weeks, we will distribute the entire source to the
> Macintosh ROM as well as the source to System software
> 6.0.3, Finder 6.1, and AppleTalk 2.0.   System 7.0 will be
> distributed as soon as we secure a copy of it.  Our objective
                                                  ^^^ ^^^^^^^^^
> at Apple is to distribute everything that prevents other
  ^^ ^^^^^
> manufacturers from creating legal copies of the Macintosh.
...

I suppose I'll get flamed by the good socialist denizens of the net for
this posting, but I've got a real problem with this.

You may disagree with Apple's corporate policies.  By all means voice
those disagreements.  If you wish, emulate Stallman et al. in boycotting
Apple and encouraging others to do so.  If you are an Apple employee,
voice these concerns to your management, offer to resign, or resign.

But the materials your friend received are stolen goods.  There is no
other way to characterize them.  Those who distributed them, and are
offering to distribute more, are not simply breaking the law, they have
serious ethical problems.  To accept employment by Apple, and to betray
the trust that that entails, is simply unconscionable.

I may not agree with the antics of the Apple management and lawyers.  And
I'll defend your right to improve on ideas.  I'll contribute to Stallman's
defense fund, if it comes to that.

But the actions of "nuPrometheus" aren't the actions of brave freedom
fighters, they are the actions of scum.  Would you want one for an
employee?  A lab partner? A friend?  Would you trust them with ANYTHING?

=Ned Horvath=