Re: WHO???

[ljsilicon@aol.com (LJSILICON)]

>(Jeff Blakeney)

>The onus is not on the copyright holder to pursue all copyright
>violations.  The onus is on the public to not infringe on copyrights.

Wrong.... wrong.... wrong....

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST ALL
KNOWN VIOLATORS. If he or she does not do so, he or she has a valid copyright,
but it is not defendable. This was explained at the Apple //e introduction to
user groups when Apple flew in all the user group presidents. Apple actually
blew their copyright on DOS 3.3 by leaving off any type of copyright notice
when the system booted. Yes, they have the copyright. Can they sue and win, NO!
This came directly from Apple legal people who attended the weekend seminar.

>By the way, charges can be laid whether or not the copyright holder
>even knows that someone is infringing on their rights.

WRONG!!!! Only the copyright holder can pursue the matter or his or her legal
representatives. It is a civil matter; not a criminal matter in the States.

 >It is like the
>situation where if a police officer sees someone breaking into a
>house, he can arrest and charge them without the house owner ever
>knowing or complaining.

NOT even close to being right! Again, copyright infringement is CIVIL (money
for wrong doing), B&E is CRIMINAL (Jail for wrong doing).

>Also, it is up to every citizen of a society to help uphold the laws
>of that society.  If you see a crime being committed, you are obliged
>by law to report it.

Fine, call the OPP and tell them that someone just made an illegal copy of
AppleWorks. Perhaps they'll call outthe Mounties! ROFLOL :) :) :)

>If you don't, you too can be charged.  In the
>example above, if you see someone breaking into a house and don't
>report it and the authorities find out, you can be charged with
>abetting.  I may not be reporting it to the authorities (I'm Canadian
>and most of the sites in question are on American soil) so I do the
>next best thing.  I raise awareness about the crime so that I won't be
>accused of abetting and so others can do the right thing.

Perhaps a course in Civil law would do you some good. As for your example, I
believe that there are countries where there is a good samaritan statute that
applies, or was that just in Seinfeld?  Hmmm... With this outburst of wisdom,
YOU'RE KILLING ME!!!! I haven't laughed so hard in years....

ROFLOLKF&C

LJSilicon - Not affiliated with the Dean of Humor at Apple II University in
A2Pro on Delphi.