GPL & commercial software, the critical distinction (fwd)

[Matthew James Gering]

Not really, the state holds a monopoly on "legal" force, whereas the
Mafia and other black-market organizations do not. What is interesting
is they use force often because they cannot use the government legal
system to arbitrate their disputes.

	Matt

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Mynott [mailto:stevem at tightrope.demon.co.uk]

> On Thu, Oct 08, 1998 at 04:14:32PM -0700, Matthew James Gering wrote:
> > 
> > The Mafia has had two primary characteristics:
> > 
> > a) the use of force
> 
> wouldn't this characteristic define the mafia as a "state" to some
> degree?