Articles

FidoCop and FidoRob

Amir Shabashvili
2:5049/12, ashabash@zarech.ru

(This is reply on Douglas Myers 1:270/720 article named "FIDOCOP" in the first April issue)

Dear Douglas!

I think I got you point. let me reply on only sentence from your excellent article:

DM> For Fidonet sysops to act against and individual who has
DM> possibly broken the law would essentially be an act of
DM> vigilantism, itself against the law.

You talking in context of Andreas Klein's letter connected with Ward's decision on well-known there in 2:R50 conflict beetween FTN software developer and network member who illegally used mailer software (Ravel for Mac). (Just for info, Ravel isn't commercial or shareware soft, it is free, but licensed software. Ever more, there are 2 versions: first - absolutely free, with usial free license, and second (advanced), for using it you need to ask author's permission and receive (free!) key.)

As far as I know, author asked other side to stop unlicensed usage of his software and got in reply something like "go to hell", + some abuse lines in the local pointlist was placed. Do you think, it must be normal behavior (except abuse stuff)? I think not.

I think, the normal would be to stop usage of unlicensed software and install free version. There are a lot of free FTN software appears in last the years, no problemo with that, ever for Mac (Mac is very exotic computer in 2:R50).

Behavior like described above lead us to author's copywrite and local laws violation (remember,Policy4 told us "2.1.1 <...> and do not promote or participate in the distribution of pirated copyrighted software or other illegal behavior via FidoNet"), but as for me, moral aspect of the problem is more important.

Of cource, we can't judje well, we are not professional lowyers, but we not talking about real life, we talking about virtual community, where FidoNet policy and common sence are widely used for any problem resolution. Why we can not use it in this case? Why we must call a police? Police can't excommunicate someone from FidoNet. Better I call my NC/RC:)

I think, coordinators at any level must process formal policy complaints dealing with license violation. They must applied such complaints from software developers only, not from anyone, but they must.

It is very important case for Russia, because of a lot of pirated CD's saled on every corner, and more than 90% of installed software isn't legal. In FidoNet too, not 90%, but a lot, using cracked software and fake keys is usial!

We can't quickly change that. But, we must try.

Best regards,

Amirko