Re: Snivelling Turlettes

["Frank Townsend" <ftownsen@iamdigex.net>]

"Arkain" <rwking@no.usa.spam.net> wrote in message
news:39e1d5e3$1@hal.grnco.net...

As for the law codes go, if the holder doesn't press the
> issue then there's little that the law can do against the thief, short of
a
> slap on the wrist since copyright violation is not a federal offense.

Under some circumstances, a copyright violation *is* a federal criminal
offense.  While it is true that the coperation of the victim is often
indispensible for the state's case, in the criminal portion of a copyright
case, the criminal "plaintiff" is the state (the Federal Government), not
the victim.  Criminal case captions often read "State v. Brown" or "US v.
Williams." The state seeks the indictment, not the victim.

> The point of that somewhat loosely constructed example was that if I don't
> press charges, there's nothing more the police can do.

A common misconception.  See my above comments.  "Press charges" is often
loosely used to refer to a formal accusation by a victim.  If you refuse to
accuse, or accuse someone of a crime but then recant, the state may be
compelled to drop its case.  But the state may also proceed if it has enough
evidence apart from the testimony of the victim.

 That means that you
> have 2 choices left... either wash your hands of the situation or try to
> stop the thief yourself. You've been choosing the latter. The only problem
> is that in doing so, you've violated my rights, the rights of the
> thief(ironic, isn't it), and a hand full of laws regarding vigilantes.
>
> So let me now ask you this... is it ok to break the law to stop someone
else
> from breaking the law?

Sometimes. Try openly shoplifting a nice pair of sunglasses and see how many
of your civil rights are "violated" by the store, all quite legally ;-))