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From: das@eplunix.UUCP (David Steffens)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk,comp.unix.bsd,comp.unix.wizards,comp.org.usenix
Subject: Re: BSDI/USL Lawsuit -- More Bad News for Human Beings...
Message-ID: <1343@eplunix.UUCP>
Date: 15 Jan 93 19:00:41 GMT
References: <BZS.93Jan14203519@world.std.com>
Organization: Eaton-Peabody Lab, Boston, MA
Lines: 27
In article <BZS.93Jan14203519@world.std.com>,
bzs@world.std.com (Barry Shein) writes:
> There has been some speculation as to whether or not USL would try to
> extend this suit to control individuals who have ever had access to
> the Unix sources. ... their latest legal filing leaves
> little doubt that the worst fears have now been confirmed...
We programmers have no one to blame for this but ourselves.
For years we have been screaming for more and better laws and enforcement
of licensing, copyright, patents, etc. Everyone and her sister wants
"intellectual property" protection (an oxymoron if ever there was one).
How the hex do you think this "protection" will be accomplished?
Since you can't lock up "intellectual property", you have to place controls
on the individuals who have access to said "property". If you are going
to demand protection for _your_ "property", then you had d*mn well better
be prepared for the consequences when others come forward to demand similar
protection for _their_ "property". All of us who have helped to make this
bed will now just have to learn to sleep in it... or try to _un_make it.
When ideas become "property", _everyone_ loses! So it goes...
--
David Allan Steffens | I believe in learning from past mistakes...
Eaton-Peabody Laboratory | but why does a good education require so many?
Mass. Eye & Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114
{harvard,mit-eddie}!eplunix!das Tel (617) 573-3748 Fax (617) 720-4408