[888] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Public access software
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (HILL_J@gold.colorado.edu)
Fri Jul 31 18:22:12 1992
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 17:08:49 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
From: HILL_J@gold.colorado.edu
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
The question "who are we serving -- the user or the publisher" is, I believe,
the wrong question. When we pay attention to the potential for abuses of the
copyright law, we are not serving the publishers, we are instead serving
as advocates/supporters of authors and other creators who have their
intellectual property protected by copyright.
I do agree that we are not obliged to look over people's shoulders, nor to
do more than is a reasonable amount to inform users of what is legal and what
is illegal ... and to arrange our own procedures so that they do not make
illegal copying either terribly attractive or ridiculously simple.
Just because a determined burglar will find a way to get into your house if
he/she wants to, that is no reason to put out a sign that says "burglars
welcome", and to leave the door standing open. On the other hand, *because*
a determined burglar will find a way into a locked house if he/she wants to,
that may not be sufficient reason to lock it up so securely that the owners
have a hard time getting in, or enjoying their own home.
- janet swan hill
univ of colo, bldr
