OT: Software for profit (Was: Language Abuse) (Which Was: Note to Tim)

[tickticker]

Uh, I think a little realism is needed here.

I didn't think up cars or any part of them.  they are full of other peoples
ideas made real.  so many patents and such it's almost ridiculous.  But when
I plunk down my cash that car is mine.... end of story... there are certain
terms of use of course.  drive safely, responsibly, etc but the car itself
is mine.  If I want to completely disassemble that car and put 1 piece in
20,000 cars, then that's just my (insane) prerogative.  I owned it, used it
under guidelines, and I destroyed it.  If you tear up the M$ certificate and
CD, before registering it, that's the end of that license, is it not?  I can
sell my ownership of a car to someone else.  or I can give my car away to
some needy soul.  And I have actually.

The issue would seem to be ownership of a produced item.  I am damn sure the
car will work and that laws and such will protect me otherwise it won't get
registered.  I can copy others work and build my own car from next to
nothing, won't get sued in any way, and within reasonable safety limits, use
it on the road.  Even putting others in the way of possible harm. But I
can't own this CD and make a backup copy? or sell my M$ office product to a
friend because I've migrated to OpenOffice?  That's just plain wrong.

There is also the lease model.  I can lease a car and STILL do what I want
with it, I would just owe the cost of the car.

I could go on, but I won't.

anthony

> Is it really possible to own software if you didn't write it?  Even if you
> did write it, is it possible to own an idea?  I don't think it is possible
to
> have or maintain ownership if you pass software to someone else.  The mere
> act of using the program causes it to be different to others and thereby
> changes the ownership.
>
> It seems to me that if by opening the box voids any chance to return the
item
> there is a very strong inducement to piracy.  Buying a "pig in a poke" has
> been a hazard for several hundred years and well recognized as such; so
why
> would any reasonable person subscribe to such practice?  If there is
enough
> interest in or need for the item the only logical alternative is to seek
> pirated versions in order to test the item.  Does it seem that copy
> protection is actually an endorsement of software piracy?


> > Copy Protection gets on my nerves. What really hurts now is when
software
> > companies tell me the software I bought isn't really mine, and that I
only
> > bought the media and a license to use it. Had there been a sticker on
the
> > box, I wouldn't have bought the software. Worst yet I don't know what i
am
> > agreeing too until I open the box, which now voids any chance of
returning
> > the item.
>