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From: kurt@tc.fluke.COM (Kurt Guntheroth)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.misc
Subject: Re: Software Development And Piracy (Spurred By FTL replies)
Message-ID: <6268@fluke.COM>
Date: 9 Dec 88 21:17:08 GMT
References: <555@icus.islp.ny.us> <2363@ddsw1.MCS.COM> <1334@leah.Albany.Edu>
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Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
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I wonder why companies don't offer cash rewards for "information leading to
the arrest and conviction" of software pirates.  Just imagine if pirates had
to keep their hoards secret because of a substantial cash incentive for
their friends to rat on them.  Don't think it would happen?  How many
scruples can a software pirate have?  The minimum charge would be something
like recipt of stolen goods.  If copying could be proved, the copyright laws
enable fines up to $10K per occurrance.  Make the rewards and penalties
significant, and you'd find password hackers invading each other's secret
pirate bulletin boards like rival gangs shooting it out.  With pirating
driven deep underground, the options for honest citizens would be clearer.
Break the law and actually risk conviction, pay the price and use the
product, or do without.

Nahh.  I must have missed something.  This looks too easy.