Re: Why DRM exists [was Re: Flame Linus to a crisp!]

Henrik Persson
2003-04-29T20:22:49Z

On Tue, 29 Apr 2003 15:56:12 -0400
Timothy Miller <miller@techsource.com> wrote:

> Like in movies where:
> - kid A writes a book report
> - kid B copies it
> - kid B gives the book report in class before kid A
> - kid A gets an F because he can't give his report

Ah, allright.

> Mind you, this may be a very childish way of looking at things. I
> PERSONALLY don't expect a problem. I've released code under GPL before,
> and people respected, to my knowledge, my copyright. They were thankful
> and appreciated using what I wrote. I loved the whole experience. But
> I have a strong enough sort of personality that I would go on the
> offensive were someone to steal my work, take credit for what I did,
> etc. Some people are much more timid. Rather than damning them for
> being timid, those of us who can understand how they feel should try to
> help so that they will share their ideas with us.
>
> The fear exists because this kind of theft happens, and not just among
> children.

I can see what you mean. Personally, neither do I expect a problem. And if
it did become a problem, I wouldn't care very much. If I knew that someone
stole my work and took credit for it, I would flame him somewhere public,
just to let the world know, but it wouldn't keep me up at night.

But there is another view at this problem. When money gets involved. If
someone is stealing your code and is making money of it. Most people I
know would react in a very offensive way. But I wouldn't. I did never
expect to get any money out of it, so well. ;)

Or.. Err. On the second thought, I would flame them too, I guess. Darn.

> Keep in mind that being introverted is normal and common. Being timid,
> on the other hand, is something completely different and can be the
> result of some sort of past trauma. People try to share and get burned,
> so they don't share anymore.

We will just have to be pedagogical. We'll have to try to help them
overcome their fear of those pirates, as you said. I think that it might
be enough for some people to raise the question "Does it really matter? At
least _you_ know you did this."

--
Henrik Persson nix@socialism.nu http://nix.badanka.com
PGP-key: http://nix.badanka.com/pgp PGP-KeyID: 0x43B68116