Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2002 09:20:11 -0400
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at mail.press.jhu.edu>
To: <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Pirating, was Baen Free Library
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

> kfl at KeithLynch.net 09/24/02 08:19PM

 Linux & penquins removed . . .

>
>"Barry L. Newton" <bnewton at ashcomp.com> wrote:
>> I stumbled onto this looking at Michael's reference.  May be old
>> news to some of you, but it's a neat new thing for me!
>> http://www.baen.com/library/
>
>It originated from a dispute in the rec.arts.sf.written newsgroup
>between Eric Flint and S.M. Stirling two years ago.  Stirling believes
>that online copyright infringement is such a serious threat that
>it justifies outlawing all software, hardware, and protocols that
>could possibly be used for this purpose, even if they are used for
>legitimate purposes 99% of the time.  Eric Flint responded that the
>biggest threat to an author's bottom line isn't illegal copies, it's
>people who never heard of the author, and hence aren't willing to
>spend real money on the chance that they'll enjoy the author's books.

Another problem with non-authorized copies on the net is the distinct =
possibility that what is posted is "textually corrupt".  How many of the =
pirates actually proofread what they post?

Also, it appears that the music industry is created "spoof" files of =
music: you download the latest Moby tune/album and it skips or just =
doesn't play well.  Which just adds to the congestion on the net . . .

mjw