George Toft wrote:
> 
> In a nutshell, this bill requires the installation of hardware copy
> protection devices on all hardware capable of playing digital media.
> So your next computer will be unable to copy mp3's, mpg's, avi's,
> etc.  Eric Raymond's wife, a lawyer, did an excellent article on why
> this is bad: http://linuxandmain.com/essay/craymond.html

I'll have to read this...

> If the owner does that, that is at his risk.  It is foolish, as the
> SBA is using the courts to force software audits on companies.  If
> a company does not comply, SBA gets a court order to inventory the
> software.

And where they find that my machine is clean can I sue them for
friviolous legal action, disruption tomy business, etc.?

Actually the issue is that I have worked at Universities where I am not
given the authority to lock people out like this.  They already got into
the habit of putting any damn thing they want on...

Fortunately that mostly is in the long distant past, but still...

> This is why companies use Windows NT instead of Windows 9x for
> user control.  My NT desktop machine is locked down so tight, all
> I am allowed to change are my screen properties, files on the Windows
> Desktop, and files in my profile directory.  If I need software installed,
> I open up a change request, which goes through budget review, my manager
> has to allocate money to buy the License, and it gets installed two weeks
> later by a help desk person using SMS.
> 
> As iron-fisted as this sounds, this is what is required to protect the
> company assets from the likes of the SBA and viruses (all things evil).

agreed.  I understand the necity and have done similar when and where I
can.

> Strangely enough, even the US Navy has a policy about software piracy.
> It says: If your command pirates software, reserve $250K in your budget
> per copy so you can pay the fine if you get caught.  Commands don't
> pirate much software.
> 
> > I do not worry overly much since I have such shallow pockets.
> 
> ...
> 
> Shallow pockets or not, judgements siphon off future earnings, so
> your prospects of ever getting deep pockets diminishes rapidly. :)
> See, I told you was a lawyer wannabe (then I saw the light).

I learned a long time ago when somone uses the S' word, hit them with
the meanest legal service you can afford and hit them back twice as
hard.  Loosing even a little court case not only siphons a little off
the top, it also sets a precidence you do not want in your life...

  EBo --