From: wilsona@cpva.saic.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: copywright & Piracy
Date: 25 Aug 92 14:08:44 PST
Followup-To: comp.sys.mac.games
Organization: Science Applications Int'l Corp./San Diego

In article <trent-250892112228@128.95.123.185>, trent@mailhost.hsas.washington.edu (Eric Seablade) writes:
>> 
>> Hopefully you'll grow up someday and realize what you're doing.
>> 
>> You copy without remorse, and give away your ill gotten software without
>> remorse.  You don't even make an effort to stop or reduce the scale of your
>> activities.  And (this is the crux of the matter) you don't even give a
>> $#!T about the games you're ripping off!  You stockpile games like someone
>> stockpiles books or wines, with little intention of ever enjoying them!
>> You just keep consuming and consuming games, and getting some ego-masturbation
>> from the idea that you have the largest pirated software collection in the
>> school/town/county.  You, sir, are a morally corrupt creep.
>> 
>> And can't spell worth a damn either.
>> 
>> P.S.  Yes, I've pirated games, and I still do.  If I get a game and don't
>> like it, I delete it.  If I like it, I go ahead and buy the original.
>> -- 
> 
> Well, I'm sorry to disapoint you but I am not concidered a creep bu people
> I
> know, and no they are not the scum of the earth as well.  Perhaps in
> regards
> to pirating software I am corrupt, but I am at peace with my conceonce
> in that regard.  If I had remorse I wouldent coppy software.  I dont
> collect
> software for Ego-masterbation.  I collect it for several reasons.  One, is
> that I do some programing myself and I like to see what others have
> written.
> Also I supose I am greedy for a wealth of information.  I also collect
> artwork
> and text files as well.  (what i dont suport in the software field I
> certinly
> do in the disk manufacturing field)  Not that that is an excuse.  I don't
> spell well because I am to some extent dyslexic.  The reason I own a
> computer
> is so that I can spell check my college papers and manuscripts.  And yes, 
> I did by the software that allows me to do those things.  As I said, I try
> to
> purchace the software that I feel I realy want and need so that more of its
> like will be made in the future.  The stuff I pirate is usualy stuff that
> I find more interesting than needed.  Again I don't claim this as an excuse
> fo my action.
> 
> Ideas are indeed property and software fits in that cattagory.  But people
> must realize that the nature of the medium is condusive to theft.  Its a
> sort
> of soft theft however.  The lines can grow verry fuzzy.  ones and zeros can
> be
> coppied and modified to make very different things happen on the screen. 
> Is
> it the actual electronic pulses that are coppy right or is it the result of
> those impulses.  Or is it both?  
> 
> Soon this world will be infested with computers and networks as this very 
> network is evidence of.  It will be a data rich society, with more
> information
> available to those who can acces it than ever before.  And who will own it?
> And who will pay?  These are important questions.  My hunger for knowledge
> often brings me to collect what others concider theirs, yet I do not take
> it away from them.  I tend to be a generous person.  I have created my own
> games and sent them to various BBS's and such.  I always put them out as 
> freeware, with an adress where people can send money or their own creations
> on a purely volintary basis.  I would like to see as many people as
> possible
> use these games to their enjoyment but I would not want others to make a
> profit
> from my labors (despite that being the case whenever I work for someone
> other than myself).  Perhaps it is my attitude that causes me to pirate
> software.  I like to fancy myself as a philosopher.  As such I feel that
> the
> only thing you can truly know is what you feel with regards to what you
> observe.
> With that in mind I feel that the so called golden rule is a very good one.
>  
> Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  And that is basicly
> what I do.  It would be nice if everyone paid for their software and every
> other idea
> that was ever thought up, but that is not the case and furthermore that is
> not
> what I expect or even want from other people.  Generosity is important to
> me.


In your reply you state that
" (you) do some programing (yourself) & like to see
what others have written." 

Then you state that
" (you) have created (your) own
games and sent them to various BBS's and such.  (You) always put them out as
freeware, with an adress where people can send money or their own creations
on a purely volintary basis.  (You) would like to see as many people as
possible
use these games to their enjoyment but (you) would not want others to make a
profit
from (your) labors"

I hope you're not using the code from pirated programs in your own programs.
Then you would be making a profit off of others work. I'm sure our peers
John Calhoun and Ben Haller would have something to say about that.

You like to fancy yourself a philosopher huh? So did Chuck Manson.... :)