Re: More paranoia: Microsoft and MACs

["John J. Urbaniak" <jjurban@ibm.net>]

Steve Cohen wrote:
> 
> "John J. Urbaniak" wrote:
> 
> > Nicholas Petreley wrote:
> > >
> > > Wandered Inn wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Through my own paranoia and thanks to Microsoft, I no longer register
> > > > online.  I always do it now via the postal service.
> > >
> > > Speaking of paranoia, mine just increased a tad.
> >
> > Keep in mind that the new "Software Piracy law" allows companies like MS
> > to sue you for something like $400,000 and put you in jail, even if all
> > you did was pirate an $80 product.
> >
> > Piracy is wrong, but those penalties are atrocious.
> >
> > It allows tyrants like Gates to terrorize everybody.  Do you think he
> > wouldn't hesitate one nanosecond?
> 
> Actually, I'm sure he has hesitated on this.  This kind of penalty is like
> dropping the bomb.  Even Gates doesn't want to go there.  It's hard to
> imagine judges enforcing such penatlies especailly against individuals.  The
> negative publicity it would garner Microsoft would IMHO outweigh the award.

Don't need judges - all you need is a threatening phone call or letter
from a MS Attorney.  What small company can afford to stand up to MS
attornies?

Believe me, I've seen stuff like this first-hand.  Not from MS, but
another company far bigger than I am.

John