It's mad and stupid, but really harmless (harmless idiotism) (it was: Re: [Patents] Copyrights can be just as freedom threateni

[Krzysztof Sobolewski critto@proterians.net]

Date sent:              Thu, 28 Dec 2000 21:54:17 -0500 (EST)
From:                   Gregory Aharonian <srctran@world.std.com>
To:                     patents@liberte.aful.org
Subject:                [Patents] Copyrights can be just as freedom 
threatening and abusive

> For all the complaints about the abuses of patents and hypothetical losses
> of freedom, copyrights can be just as abused and freedom threatening.
> 
> Greg Aharonian
> 
> >http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,40850,00.html
> >
> >    Free Links, Only $50 Apiece
> >    by Declan McCullagh (declan@wired.com)
> >    2:00 a.m. Dec. 28, 2000 PST
> >
> >    WASHINGTON -- Online news sites are turning to a novel way to make
> >    some extra cash: requiring fees for links.

I've already read it. CRAZY. MAD. STUPID. THIEF-LIKE.

However, let's take a closer look and reconsider the title (subject) 
of your letter again -- this is NOT a copyright law that threatens 
freedom and demands to pay for links. this is COPYRIGHT LAW,
what PREVENTS such outright, outlaw activity from being legally
enforced. And there is LOW risk, that companies like that will 
effectively LOBBY for changes in the copyright law -- because the 
will LOSE ALL THEIR MONEY first. But read further :-))

How to call such policy of those companies ? Theft. Robbery. 
Stupidness. Idiotism. Why the last 2 ones ? Because EVERYONE 
benefits from linking to him/her. FREE LINK is a FREE 
ADVERTISEMENT. It is just like saying 'let's have a look at that 
BRILLIANT newspaper "X News" (the name fictious), the page 2,
the article "Mad Cows attack". Those who'd read it, probably (some 
of them) will look at that newspaper, will buy it, will look at the ads 
put into it ... 

Those who wish to prohibit others of linking to them, are like those, 
who wished to prohibit others talking about them and making their 
publicity larger. It is like taking away the potential customers, and 
a real stupidity (or maybe it's effect of BSE ???) 

Well, I've heard that some companies PAY the browser engine 
companies to put their links there. I see now that some, however, 
DEMAND to NOT BE LINKED, NOT BE SEARCHABLE AND 
FINDABLE. And may the HELL take them !! May they fall for their
stupid policies. They will lose their business by such practices. 

Imagine the shopkeeper demanding that every customer kissed his 
naked arse. Humiliating to customers, isn't it ?

However, it shouldn't be penalized (except for the demoralization of 
minors) -- the shopkeeper penalizes, punishes HIMSELF, by such 
policy. Nobody, except maybe some deviated ones (which will 
strenghten the 'leave me alone!' effect and fear any normal 
customer). We know it in Poland -- under the communist rule there 
was much rudeness in the shops, coming mostly of the 
shopsellers. Since the communism is abolished and all the shops 
became private, it plummetted. Why ? Nobody wished to lose eir 
customers.

So let's just leave those stupid, poor folks, and let them rest in 
peace, or in their own delussions and madness. And may their 
managers take less narcotic drugs and drink less alcohol ;-))

  Yours in Liberty,
       Krzysztof (Christopher) "Critto" Sobolewski



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            Krzysztof (Christopher) "Critto" Sobolewski
e-mail:critto@poczta.wp.pl, liberter@poczta.wp.pl
www:www.critto.prv.pl, www.libertaryzm.prv.pl
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  -> ZERO TOLERANCJI DLA CENZURY!!! (FAQ)
phone:(058) 301-72-50, 0608 114 421
address:ul. Krosna 32/2, 80-857 Gdansk, POLAND, EUROPE
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PS. Nie mam nic wspolnego z firmami, na ktorych serwerach
 mam swoje domeny, strony www i konta e-mail, poza
 posiadaniem ich u nich
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