Forwarded message:
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 1998 03:13:00 -0800 (PST) From: mark@unicorn.com Subject: Re: the best justice money can buy --Lessig (fwd)
Jim Choate (ravage@ssz.com) wrote:
If there were no copyright nobody would have any reason to market software or much else for that matter.
So I presume that Linux doesn't exist[1]? And, for that matter, I make my living writing software which is given away for free...
[1] Yes, I'm aware the GPL uses copyright to enforce its conditions, but it's copright-free in the important sense: anyone can copy Linux and use it with no fear of black ninjas at their door.
A couple of other points. I've never claimed the monopolization would exist over nite or that it wouldn't be filled with short term conflicts and ups-n-downs. Only that the *long-term* result is a monopolized market. A point you seem to gloss over as irrelevant. Let's give the market another 5-10 years and see where Linux stands. Right now the estimate is 6-10 million users world wide use it. Share wise that isn't a lot. The reason that Linux garners so much press right now is that it is in fact an exception when an organization uses the software (eg NASA). The test will be whether it grows significantly over the long run and not the 5 years that Linux has been a serious os. ____________________________________________________________________ | | | The most powerful passion in life is not love or hate, | | but the desire to edit somebody elses words. | | | | Sign in Ed Barsis' office | | | | _____ The Armadillo Group | | ,::////;::-. Austin, Tx. USA | | /:'///// ``::>/|/ http://www.ssz.com/ | | .', |||| `/( e\ | | -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- Jim Choate | | ravage@ssz.com | | 512-451-7087 | |____________________________________________________________________|