Re: Software Piracy : The Grey Area

[GUDATH@EZINFO.VMSMAIL.ETHZ.CH (Henrik 'Ratte' Gudat)]

In <5so5t4$4us$1@client3.news.psi.net> smentzer@pacbell.net writes:

> >I'd also like to add that it's a distorted view that everyone has a 'right' to
> >use old software. Without such a right, we have to live with the fact that we
> >can't get our hands on every piece of software.
> 
> Legally we have no rights as far as this is concerned. No-one said it was a 
> "right", but we would sure like to use the software.
           ^^^
I think that's exactly the point - the "but". I would surely like to try so
many things that I'm not allowed to because of property rights. So I respect
them. I drop it from my wish list. I do no longer think about it. We have to
accept the fact that certain possibilities are not within our reach without a
major effort.

Please excuse my Ph.D. style (heck, I don't have one, even not a faked one),
but our whole system bases on the fact that you will get what you want if the
check is right. Equipped with the right amount of money, you will always, a
100% get what you want. And in the case of old Apple II software, you will
invest time (=money) to locate what you want and pick up a copy from garage
sales or a reseller. These costs you have to carry are high, and if you are not
willing to pay this amount, then there's a misproportion between the price of
the software and your desire to own such. It's a scarce resource and carries a
hefty price tag - take it or leave it.

Willie Yeo is trying to bring down these costs by reclassifying the software.
He has invested more money (time) than it would have taken him to find copies
of the software for himself, so he is doing a service for the public because
they will enjoy the fruits of his efforts. So, here's again a plug for Willie
to help him.

I believe this topic has to be seen in a MUCH broader sense. Many of today's
problems are rtelated to property rights that are not perceived as they should,
of course by those who can't afford to pay for them. (Once again the rich guys
among us are the lucky ones, though their rotten nature is often mucho more
overwhelming. Guess how they DIUD get all that money... ) One argument often
heard is that certain scarce resources are "not available", but that's not
true. They are available but not at the price you'd like to find them. And as
everywhere, if the price tag is to high, that's no excuse for (ab)using the
resource but to come back at a later time when the price has come down or you 
have more money in your pocket.

- henrik