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To the Editor:

Freeloaders

I'm often tempted to be freeload when it comes to software, music and infomation. While the vast majority have done so I have turned to Linux.

While others know what they are doing is wrong when they download illegal warez, I don't think that when I copied a friends Beatles tape and downloaded whatever- that what I was doing was wrong. Illegal yes.

I still look for a way to pay for:

- support for the software I use

- music gigs I go to

- support for the books and infomation I digest

-but-

I really don't like paying for CDs and software. There's something about paying for knowledge that gets my gripe. i.e. "You now own the rights to this song" - It doesn't feel right.

Of course I still do because if I see a good thing I want to reward the person who created it - even if I have to do in a way against my ethos.

Yes, law can protect musicians, properiatory coders and the others who have even built their livelyhood on selling infomation, but the ability of the law to keep this business plan is limited.

In the end it is actually not worth the effort enforcing laws to prevent all breaches of infomation as (this is crucial)

it simply isn't real!

Infomation is just a subjective thing of the imagination so people will always have trouble selling it. Doesn't matter what clever tricks technology wil throw; quantum encryption or anti-trust terrorism.

Locking people up for stealing infomation isn't the definitive answer.

How do you stop my band going to a gig, hearing a song we like and playing it back from memory the next day - this is a breach of copyright. Alternitively how do you stop a writer plagerising someones work? -especially if it's in another language and to another audience.

Only recently has the whole situation really been highlighted by technology. This isn't a new thing, since infomation existed it has been `stolen`.

I relise what I'm saying will kick up a fuss. This is the desired effect - because it is best talked about.

As long as the illusion of infomation exists (which seems indefinate?) this crazy situation will continue to exist.

I think we need to change the way we view and treat knowledge and infomation.

I hope the Net will be the agent of this.

jago25_98