From: jgl7@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Andrew T. Kim)
Subject: Re: copyright
Reply-To: jgl7@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Andrew T. Kim)
Organization: Columbia University
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 15:37:49 GMT

In article <1k8377INN1ba@emx.cc.utexas.edu> btlee@emx.cc.utexas.edu (Byungtae Lee) writes:
> jgl7@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Andrew T. Kim) wrote:
> [ copy vs. imitation ]
>    For me, the distiction between two of you concepts is not clear.
>    Maybe you are talking about only software copy using command "copy".

Not really.  It also includes the numerous books that did not have proper
copyright from the publisher, the songs that contain the excerpts of other
songs, etc.  I was trying to imply "recreating" by "imitating"

>    Do you ignore copying is the most cheap economic decision even though
>    it is not ethical or legal sometimes? Because it's free.

You still cannot justify it that way.  If it's not legal, it's illegal.  I
also doubt copying is the most economic decision.  Sometimes, maybe, in the
short term.

>    Now we do not have pirate versions of foreign books in Korea (Some
>    netters may remeber "TAP Press" (tower press) in old good days.)
>    Why do you say Korea hardly has any?    

Perhaps it has been changed somewhat.  It was just an impression that I got
from Korean TV's, records, textbook salesmen, etc.

>> You are asking government to be rational. :) 
>> Korean policy makers are not known for their long-term view.
>
>    OK. Let me try the role of devil advocate again. What's your bases for
>    this judgement on Korean policy makers?  If you buy the economical
>     achievement of Korea, how can we say so?  Well if you insist that we
>    should have done better, then I will withdraw the above question.

Heh... You sound more like a righteous brothers than a devil's advocate...:)

Well, if you want some evidence, statistics, data or anything like that, I
can't give it to you.  It was just my impression that Korean politicians
are very short-sighted.  They just seem to be more concerned about
short-term return ( I am not talking about just economics ), and always are
cleaning up the mess created by previous legislators.  But then again, I
might as well be just sarcastic.  That's what the smiley was for.

>
>    Well, as a matter of fact, it did not save my money, but did my company's
>    money. As an employee, I was not in charge of Korean Economy but was
>    in charge of my company's MIS.  You maybe are talking about "longer
>    effect of my "anti-entrepreneual" decision. But isn't it also true
>    way that Capitalism works? i.e., the most efficient economic behavior of
>    individual companies gives the leading edge to whole national economy. 
>

Well, since it saved your company money, you were an indirect beneficiary
of the deal as an enployee, however indirect it might have been, but that
is not my point.  

I am not talking about your action.  I am talking about the lack of proper
regulations in Korea.  Believe me, I will try to take advantage of the
situation as much as possible, as long as I don't get caught.  It still
does not mean, however, existing law is the good one.  It is important to
have a good law in place as a yardstick to help more people in the long
term.  It might not be the best for you as an individual at a particular
moment, so break it at your own risk :)

>> The problem
>> is the lack of competition that would have created a fair market.  It is
>> understandable that Korean government has been loose about it, because
>> Korean companies are not strong enough to compete with such big companies,
>> but it should really be controlled through Trade Laws, Anti-Trust Laws or
>> something like that.  
>
>    Then how about the pressure from foreign government of those powerful
>    companies?

Like I said, that's why we have these Trade Laws, Anti-Trust Laws etc.
You cannot, or rather shouldn't, use copyright law to control the
competition.  Just because your apple is the right size does not mean you
can plug a hole in the dam with it.  It might work for a while, but it will
eventually rot.  By doing so, you are not blocking the flood efficiently,
and at the same time you are depriving the apple from the people who really
need it like, uh...Somalians!  (I have a feeling this metaphor was heading
to left field, but hey, you got my point)

>> They probably wanted to keep you happy so that they can sell you more
>> computers in the future.
>
>    Sure, that's way the business deals work. Wasn't it my bargaining power?

So they weren't that patriotic after all, eh?  :)

>    Thank you for good discussion.  I mean it.

Ditto.

>Byungtae Lee (btlee@emx.cc.utexas.edu)  
>Tel. 512)471-1679(O), 478-3779(H)  Fax. 512) 471-0587