🚀 go-pugleaf

On Fri, 28 Jan 2000 11:53:22 GMT, Richard <2prometheus@home.com> wrote:
>Isaac wrote:
>
>It isn't a central point, it's a short-circuiting point; if I win
>the argument that way, I don't have to bother with a more
>complicated argument.
>

In other words, you're throwing stuff on the wall to see what sticks.
The email argument doesn't stick.  Bring out the complicated stuff.
>Two issues;
>        1) the USA is ruled by pro-corporate fanatics,
>        2) the USA has no respect for privacy whatsoever
>
>These two facts combine to make any decision in the USA
>on the topic of ownership of email moot to other nations and
>rational people at large.
>
In other words your example was meaningless.  You're email point
proved nothing and the laws in the US are to blame for your statement
not reflecting reality.
>
>> The software is no more yours than pens and pencils taken from the
>> company store room and put in your desk or briefcase are yours.
>
>Huh. EXTREMELY poor analogy.

It does illustrate the point which you don't accept that the company can
make something available for your use at work which they have no intention
of allowing you to appropriate for any other use.  Beyond that it's probably
not any good, but who cares?
>
>
>It's possible to steal proprietary software. And if you
>take the software home then you are stealing it. Do you
>believe it is possible to steal Free software??
>

So why did you say that the only thing stopping you from taking the software
home was the license against copying?  Apparently other considerations do
come into play.

To answer your question, I do believe it's possible to steal free code.  

For example, if the company writes software and places the GPL on their code, 
they get to decide whether or not to distribute it, and on what basis.
If you make that decision for them, you will have to steal to accomplish it.
As a further example, if a group of people have GPL'd code and everyone in
the group decides not to give it to you, your attempts to use self help to
obtain the free code would be stealing.

Of course my answer assumes that placing software on someone's desk, along
with the workstation itself isn't a transfer to the employee.  You feel
otherwise.  I think I'm repeating myself so I'm out of here unless I have
something new to say.

Isaac