A89: Re: Assembly-89 Digest V1 #864

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A89: Re: Assembly-89 Digest V1 #864


I don't expect this to change anyone's mind, but I just want to make a
few points.

You're still wrong.  Althogh MS would be stupid to put the Windows source
on the web, that doesn't in any way take away their rights to do as they
wish with it.  Software does not become public domain until the author
makes it public domain, no matter what the company does with it.  They
could burn a set of CD's containing the Windows source and put them on a
platter in front of MS headquarters, but until they decide to let people
have them, it is illegal to take them.  Just because people like you
would abuse a situation like this doesn't make it legal or right.  You
can rationalize it as much as you want, but it doesn't change the facts.

On a slightly separate note, Microsoft would not go bankrupt, either,
just because there are far more people willing to do the right thing and
buy Windows than go hunt it down on warez sites.  Think about it:  Do you
think the average man would go hunting for hours to go find a working,
virus free copy?  I don't think so.  Despite the way they got in the
position they are in, the right thing to do is buy the software they
worked for years on instead of stealing it.  Besides, they will get
what's coming to them when the government desides what to do about their
monopoly tactics.

Finally, earlier today, I read a message about a lawnmower analogy.  It
said something about taking a lawnmower just because it doesn't have a
sign saying not to take it.  Well imagine you have an "object
duplicator".  Would it be right to sneak into a lawnmower manufacturor's
headquaters and copy yourself a lawnmower?  No, because if you need a
lawnmower, that's one less lawnmower sold by the company.

-Alan

> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2000 15:45:14 -0800
> From: "Serial" <Serial@earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: A89: Me distributing roms.
> 
> The source to a program is a whole other animal. It's the source 
> that can
> become public domain after a product is deemed outsold and not going 
> to make
> any money by the company. The sources are way way different than the 
> exe.
> However the idea is the same, if adobe put the source on their site 
> it's now
> a GNU product. They may make money off cd's from business still but 
> not
> likely. the doom source was released because it made id no money so 
> for no
> gain of their own they basically helped inspiring first person 
> shooter game
> writters. I mean think of this.. if the source to windows 2000 
> and/or 98 got
> out microsoft would likely go bankrupt overnight, this is the reason 
> it is
> not on the internet but rather on Mr. Super Computer in an isolated 
> room
> beind a shitload of steel and codes.
> 
> - ----- Original Message -----
> From: Olle Hedman <oh@hem.passagen.se>
> To: <assembly-89@lists.ticalc.org>
> Sent: Friday, January 14, 2000 8:08 AM
> Subject: Re: A89: Me distributing roms.
> 
> 
> >
> > yeah. whatever. I am just waiting if there will be any response 
> from TI.
> > I have not got any mail yet, but they have been visiting me again.
> > Either they don't care, or they are teaming up their laywers ;)
> > The only change I have done so far, is that I no longer distribute 
> the
> newest
> > rom version. If anyone wants that, they can just as well download 
> it from
> TI.
> >
> > file://Olle
> >
> > Scott Dial wrote:
> > > Isn't this one of those situations where the software becomes 
> public
> > > domain or something like that. I thought when software was no 
> longer in
> > > production that it becomes public domain after certain amount of 
> time.
> > > Whatever...
> >
> >
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> End of Assembly-89 Digest V1 #864
> *********************************
> 
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