[Rule-list] WOW - MS FUD

[Marco Fioretti]

On Tue, Apr 30, 2002 23:35:49 at 11:35:49PM -0400, Michael Fratoni wrote:
> 
> I'm only posting this here because of the intended target audience for 
> the rule-project.
> 
> Just came across this this little tidbit. MS would have schools believe 
> that it is illegal to accept donated computers and remove any 
> pre-installed (MS?) operating system.
> http://www.microsoft.com/education/?id=DonatedComputers
> 
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/25085.html is an article 
> discussing this tactic.
> 

Michael,

you did right, it is related to what we want to do, RULE doesn't have
only the technical side.

I just read the same announcement on another list, and have still to
reason out all the implications. The guy on the other list said that
system should mean the hard disk: if you replace it with another
without windows, it would be OK.

My first comments (still sleepy, IANAL, etc, etc..)

1) The whole thing sounds like you legally buying Disney's
"Cinderella", seeing it once, then registering your very own birthday
party over the same tape: Disney's had their money, I am free to
dump/destroy everything I legally own, so what?

Suppose I buy a pair of Levi's jeans: the left back pocket, the one
with their logo, wears out, and I replace it with an anonymous
rectangle of the same fabric: if this MS thing passes, I should
destroy the whole pair of pants rather than repairing, shouldn't I?

This demonstrates how much society still considers IT as black magic: if any
traditional industry tried to pull such tricks their own
representatives would die from embarassment, but if it's software,
everybody just thanks the wizard for sharing his wisdom...

2) If windows was legally purchased MS says that. If, as it's much
more probable, it was a pirate copy that helped them to spread their
virus, they should *thank* whoever destroys them, right ;-) ?

	Ciao,
		Marco Fioretti
		RULE project leader

-- 
We need to focus on how to be productive, not just active.
        Scott McNealy, chairman, CEO, and cofounders, Sun Microsystems.

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