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> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Julian Hall <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Wednesday, 24 October, 2007 11:04:58 PM
> Subject: Re: [LUG] OT: "Bloody' Microsoft
> Michael Mortimore wrote:
>> If you're going to pirate windoze you might as well do it properly
and
>> download a copy that doesn't need activation.
>>
>> Incidently, pirating software is not theft. The fact that you have it
>> doesn't deprive anybody else of it.
>The Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) and Microsoft would take
>issue with that view,
I'm sure they would but that doesn't make them right.
> not to mention the legal system of the UK.
Copyright infringement is not theft as far as UK law is concerned, it's not
(necessarily) even a crime - OK, so certain types of copyright infringement can give
rise to criminal liability (but that's not the kind of infringement we're talking
about in this context).
> While logically accurate it is legally untenable.
I don't understand what you're saying here, but then I don't think you do either.
> It ignores Intellectual Property.
IP is a nonsense term invented by powerful business interests who think they have a
right to "own" ideas - there is no such thing as IP and nobody can (or should be
able to) "own" an idea. The whole concept of property has no relevance (or even
meaning) when talking about copyright.
> Using it without paying them the required license fee [1]
> is.. what exactly?
It's copyright infringement.
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