Bill Gates wants to put you in jail

[Declan McCullagh <declan@pathfinder.com>]

  You Microsoft haters out there should get a kick out of this. --Declan
  
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  >http://cgi.pathfinder.com/netly/opinion/0,1042,1641,00.html
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  >The Netly News Network (http://netlynews.com/)
  >December 17, 1997
  >
  >Penance for Pirates
  >by Declan McCullagh (declan@well.com)
  >
  >        When it comes to protecting his company's computer software,
  >   nobody compares with Bill Gates. Not only is the nation's richest man
  >   thumbing his nose at government antitrust lawyers, but he's also
  >   toasting his latest victory: a draconian antipiracy bill that
  >   President Clinton signed yesterday.
  >
  >        Piloted through Congress by the deep pockets of the software,
  >   motion picture and recording industries, the law punishes unapproved
  >   "reproduction or distribution" of books, magazines, software, music or
  >   videos. The painful penalties must bring a smile to the face of
  >   software executives: fines of up to $250,000 and five years in federal
  >   prison.
  >
  >        While you're cooling your heels in Club Fed, you'll have plenty
  >   of time to consider your misdeeds -- which in this case could have
  >   been making just three copies of Microsoft Office (cost: $360 each).
  >   If it's any consolation, you'll have plenty of company. Joining you
  >   will be anyone who "willfully" infringes copyrights worth at least
  >   $1,000 within a six-month period, with stiffer penalties if the total
  >   jumps to $2,500.
  >
  >        Ouch. The cost of prosecuting millions of malfeasants has led
  >   critics to wonder, sensibly enough, if the FBI's time could be better
  >   spent chasing violent criminals. After all, software companies can
  >   (and do) sue copyright infringers already. "This is a dreadful piece
  >   of legislation," says David Post, a law professor at Temple University
  >   who teaches copyright law. "Congress is doing exactly what they
  >   shouldn't be doing: reacting in a panic and saying there's so much
  >   copyright infringement we need to throw people in jail."
  >
  >[...]
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