Re: Copyright Misuse Doctrine in Apple v. Psystar

[David Kastrup]

"Alfred M. Szmidt" <ams@gnu.org> writes:

>    An ethical person won't misappropriate copyrighted software anyway.
>    No company rule is needed.
>
>    An unethical person will ignore the copyright license if it's
>    convenient for him to do so, and he will likewise ignore the
>    company rule if it's convenient for him to do so.
>
> Ignoring a license that subjugates a users freedom is not unethical,
> it is the only right thing to do.  It may be illegal, but it is not
> unethical or immoral to do so.

I disagree, since that ignores the author's desires.  The ethical thing
is not to touch the software at all.

> If you ask me for a program that is useful to you, and the license
> states that I cannot copy it to you, then I will still do so, since
> that is what is right, that is the only ethical and moral decision.

Why do you acquire software when you don't like its license?  I know
that I don't.  Running into moral dilemmas open-eyed is stupid.

-- 
David Kastrup