NYT on the Theft of Altair BASIC

From: R. D. Davis <rdd_at_smart.net>
Date: Tue Sep 19 20:22:55 2000

On Tue, 19 Sep 2000 tim.mann_at_compaq.com wrote:
> The tone of that article really annoys me. The idea seems to be to blur
> the distinction between sharing your own work (obviously laudable) and
> sharing someone else's work without their permission (obviously unethical,
> and folks generally knew that even in 1975). It also tries to oversimplify

Wasn't there also an issue about Bill Gates & Friends having acquired
that code they based it on unethically as well? I seem to recall
having read something about that numerous places over a decade ago, or
has that little bit of history been rewritten?

> all the complex debates that are going on right now into a simple black
> and white question of whether or not there should be copyrights.

It sounds like communism is creeping onward - when the right to
intellectual property is questioned, something's very wrong. Is this
not sending the signal that it's ok to be "rewarded" for being an
hourly "worker" and get paid for routine or physical work - for
example, but it's wrong to be rewarded for thinking. After all, is
not thinking, and questioning, bad for big government, certain big
businesses, and whatever else reeks of totalitarianism, etc.? Do away
with copyrights, stick anyone who's a little rebellious on Ritalin and
puppy downers (those who watched the old, original, Saturday Night
Live TV show in the 80's will understand this), and classify those who
disagree with the government as mentally ill and lock them away, like
they did (do?) in Soviet Russia, and divvy up everyone's property,
intellectual or physical and make it available to all. Ok, did I spoil
the surprise for anyone about what's in store for the citizens of the
U.S. if Al Gore is successfully maneuvered into office by the mass
media and pharmaceutical manufacturers, etc.?

--
R. D. Davis                   "The best way to gain a true understanding of
rdd_at_perqlogic.com             Wile E. Coyote on the Roadrunner cartoons is to 
http://www.perqlogic.com/rdd  fly, head-first, off a horse into something like
410-744-4900                  a fence or a tree; trust me, this works." --RDD  
Received on Tue Sep 19 2000 - 20:22:55 BST

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