Re: Copyright request?!?

[dkwan@transmeta.com (Doug Kwan)]

Cameron Kaiser (cdkaiser@delete.these.four.words.concentric.net) wrote:
: Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net> writes:
: 
: >     Theft is, certainly, theft. Duplicating copyrighted pics from a magazine
: >for your Science class and downloading ancient Apple II software is not theft.
: >Indeed, in both cases, it is easy to show that the copyright owner benefits. 
: 
: The benefit done for/on behalf of the owner makes no difference. The theft
: of an antique vase may benefit the owner in the insurance he might receive. It
: still is theft.

I don't find the argument of benefit convincing.

It is up to the copyright owner of an old software to do whatever they
think appropriate. Yes, it is sad that some software are not released to
the public as free-ware but the legal owner has the right to do so and
only he/she, not us, can decide if the software should be made available for
donwloading.

-Doug