🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <Aug.7.15.00.09.1990.12840@dimacs.rutgers.edu>, srm@dimacs.rutgers.edu (Scott R. Myers) writes:
> 
> One possibility is to give software an honest test drive before
> deciding to give it any use.  If the product is worth while enough
> they will go ahead and purchase it.  I'll probably get flamed for that
> statement but lets face it, any worthwhile piece of software these
> days is worth the cost of the support you get from the manufacturer.
> In other words copying disks and manuals is not gonna make it...
> 

I suggest this is too close to the truth for comfort.  What we should really do
is ban the copyright of software altogether.  Over the past few years I have
seen more harm than good come out of software copyrightability.  I know many 
will disagree but I am serious - think about it!  What we should pay for is
the support.  Consumers should refuse to buy (or use!) copyright software and
insist on source code for the software they do use.  If we had no such thing
as copyright for software then public domain or GNU would really go places.
The real problem with the software industry is distribution.  "The Lord of the
Rings" took J.R.R Tolkien 20 years (part time) to write.  I can buy the book
for about $30, paperback.  Software of this standard costs thousands of dollars
and has conditions attached analogous to the purchaser being able to read
the book once only or pay a rereading fee.  Also we have libraries for those
too poor to buy books.  I know software writers have to be paid, but the current
system is just not cost effective.  There must be a better way!  We don't
expect mathematicians to copyright their proofs, and yet mathematics
progresses.  The current software industry is like the pop music industry,
it's not the best music that gets backed, its the most profitable crap that
gets "marketed".

N.B. The term "pirate" should be reserved for those criminals that SELL
software they don't have the right to.  A pirate is a very nasty piece of
business.  We still have some murdering refugees in the seas around South
East Asia.