Old Data

From: Andrew Davie <adavie_at_mad.scientist.com>
Date: Sat Apr 4 05:31:13 1998

This struck a chord with me...

>protection of data/software contained on the machine or disks. If you buy a
>camcorder at a consignment or pawn shop and the last owners left a tape of
>their after-hours playtime in the camcorder, is it my responsibility to
erase,
>safeguard or return it? I think not. I feel the same should apply to
personal


ABSOLUTELY it is your responsibility. We lost the first 3 months tape of
our son's birth, homecoming and grandparents meeting, due to the theft of a
camcorder with the tape still inside. The camcorder was stored at work, in
a locked and alarmed office. It still got stolen. Probably it ended up in
a pawn shop somewhere. I didn't care about the recorder, but the tape was
priceless. You just never know about data, and in the above situation I
think it is your primary responsibility to make SURE you don't have
something you shouldn't.

We were heartbroken at our data loss. Just because it's in a pawn shop, or
consignment, or in the dumpster - doesn't invalidate copyright, or give you
a right to do what you will with it. If you found a personal videotape or
data and make no effort to determine if it is important to the original
owner, then I think you are abrogating your responsibilities as a good
citizen.

Cheers
A
Received on Sat Apr 04 1998 - 05:31:13 BST