Re: Napster destroys Western Civilization

On Sat, 13 May 2000, Dodi Schultz <schultz[_at_]compuserve.com> wrote:
>
> On Thu, 11 May 2000, Lynn Winebarger <owinebar[_at_]free-expression.org> wrote:
> >
> > Copyright infringement is _not_ morally equivalent to theft.
>
> Yeah, it is. How else do you describe taking something that is legally
> the property of someone else?

I think copyright infringement could better be analogized to things like:

(1) Providing local telephone service without approval by the state

    Public Service Commission

(2) An unlicensed street vendor intruding on a licensed street vendor's

    territory

(3) A pirate radio staion

Copyright infringement is essentially a violation of a state sanctioned monopoly.

Regards,
John Lederer
<johnl[_at_]ibm.net> Received on Mon May 15 2000 - 11:54:08 GMT