Re: Different Idea... (WAS Re: Net piracy?)

[dkl@crl.com (David K. Leikam)]

   Jeffrey, I think this will interest you, if no-one else.

   Many software licenses forbid not just reverse-engineering, but 
ALTERATION, of the software. However you define that.
   
   The other day, I ftp'd a program for (blush) "that other computer", 
called WinLite, by Morrison & Associates.

   It does 'on-the-fly' compression/decompression of Windoze executables, 
to save disk space. While doing so, however, it reminds you that this may 
be a violation of your license agreement without express permission of 
the copyright-holder.

   True enough, as it turns out. But.

   If this is alteration (which it is), then isn't PKZIP, too? Isn't 
Shrinkit?, too?  It's LZ compression, with all 3 products, and all 3 
surely alter in the same way.

   Shouldn't we all stop using file-compressors? It does violate many 
license agreements. And aren't the people who write these things, guilty 
of (at least!) encouraging violations? Shouldn't they be sued/prosecuted 
to make them stop this practice?

  I know there's a bottom here, somewhere. I just can't find it yet.