Re: CD of all Files on Asimov

[louiss@gate.net (Louis Schulman)]

In <51aopl$66b@darla.visi.com>, nathan@visi.com (Nathan Mates) writes:
>In article <51ahj5$mvq@news.gate.net>, Louis Schulman <louiss@gate.net> wrote:
>
>>This has nothing to do with stolen property.  Perhaps you are not
>>familiar with the concept in real property known as "adverse
>>possession".  Under this concept, if a person openly and adversely
>>occupies the property of another, and the owner takes no action to
>>evict the person in adverse possession, the occupant becomes the owner
>>(usually after ten years).  No one but the real owner has grounds to
>>object.
>
>   God, save the internet from people who took basic law classes in
>High School or college and think they're experts now. Your argument is
>so full of holes it's fun thinking of ways to begin.  But, I wouldn't
>expect anything less from people who'll try and do anything to save a
>sinking ship.
>
>   Your argument is perfectly fine when talking about real estate.
>Unfortunately, software is INTELLECTUAL property, and thus falls under
>copyright law, not adverse posession. Therefore, let's take a look at
>the usenet Copyright FAQ at
>
   Hmmm. Your legal arguments are interesting.  But I understood that you
were a computer game programmer?  On the other hand, I have been an 
attorney for fifteen years, and previously practiced in New York with one of
the leading intellectual property firms in the country.

  Usually, before you pick a fight, you should find out if the other guy is
a karate expert, or has a gun.

  Yes, the copyright FAQ is a very authoritative treatise.  I have seen it
cited many times in court cases <g>.  Why don't you stick with being an
electronic pinball wizard.  I won't tell you how to write games, and you 
mind your own legal business.

  By the way, Nathan, before you visit the FBI, please rehearse the answers
to the following questions:  1) Have you ever owned or used a WildCard?
2) Have you ever copied, or received copies, of copyrighted video or audio tapes,
television programs, software, firmware or in any way in your entire life
infringed on the intellectual property rights of others? 3) Do you believe God 
talks to you and has sent you on a Divine Mission? 4)  Have you ever "cracked"
or attempted to crack any software?  5)  Do you realize that Jobs and Wozniak
got started by ripping off the phone company?  6) Do you agree that the efforts 
of early hackers are the reason that most software is now not copy-protected?
7) Have you ever attempted to disassemble or reverse engineer any software?

  Just don't expect anyone to come running with your bail.

Louis