Re: CD of all Files on Asimov

[louiss@gate.net (Louis Schulman)]

In <519rvb$mv5@crl8.crl.com>, joko@crl.com (Joe Kohn) writes:
>Nathan - I don't think that it is at all necessary for you to argue 
>or even discuss the pros and cons of piracy. There's nothing to discuss. 
>
>I feel that your time would be much better spent in investigating what we 
>have to do, and who we have to contact, to get Asimov shut down once and 
>for all. All I know is that it is the FBI who concerns itself with the 
>electronic distribution of stolen property. 
>
>As far as I'm concerned, the possibility of someone taking all that 
>pirated software and burning it onto a CD, just upped the ante 
>considerably. It's not possible to just ignore Asimov anymore, as I've 
>been doing.  
>
>Joe

Unless you are the owner of the copyrights to software on Asimov, you have 
no business advocating legal action of any sort, much less criminal prosecution.

Copyrights are private property, for the owner to do with as he wishes. If he does
not choose to protect his property rights, others are free to use the property.

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.

Fundamentally, the same is true of copyright.  Copyright owners who are being
infringed by Asimov have the right to take action.  You do not.  You do not have
any right to interfere with my access to Asimov, unless you own a copyright.

I think Asimov is a good thing.  I like it. I hope it prospers.  If it were a money-
making venture, Asimov could probably sue you for interference with its business.

You of course want to limit Asimov, since you want people to get software from
you.  This has nothing to do with what is right or good, it is just self interest
masquerading as righteousness.  Asimov is keeping the Apple // alive, whether you
like it or not.

I am sorry to have to disagree with you so violently, but I take this as you trying
to steal a resource from me.  I also am aggravated that you can voice such a firm
legal opinion, when you obviously don't know what you are talking about.

Louis Schulman  louiss@gate.net