Some senseless babbling from Albert Sodyl to Mark Lewis
on 08-23-99  20:06 about Beware of shoddy dealers...

 AS> * MOOD: Could not be better :)

 AS> Hey MARK LEWIS, what's up?

 AS> MARK LEWIS was heard grumbling this to ALBERT SODYL about Beware of
 AS> shoddy dealers!
 
 AS>>> (There's this guy I know, when you buy a computer from him, he
 AS>>> can add any commercial software on your computer [without the
 AS>>> CDs] and any games, [...]

 JdBP>> As soon as you added the phrase "[without the CDs]" alarm bells
 JdBP>> started ringing.  Be very wary of a computer dealer who doesn't
 JdBP>> give you the original installation discs along with
 
 ML> what he said, albert!! if i were in your shoes, i'd be asking some
 ML> serious questions and looking elsewhere... this has all the
 ML> earmarks of fraud, piracy, and thievery...

 AS> Lets explain it one more time.... I GET THE PROGRAMS FOR FREE... and I
 AS> DON'T CARE HOW HE PUTS THEM ON MY COMPUTER... I JUST want them
 AS> there.... he says he is licensed to distribute software like
 AS> that...especially OS/2. 

Ever hear the term "willful ignorance"?  It has a special legal meaning.  
If it can be demonstrated that you intentionally maintained ignorance of a 
criminal act of which you took part, then that ignorance is not a legal 
defense.  That is, receiving stolen goods cannot be prosecuted if you were 
unaware of their nature, but not if you were deliberately unaware.  Buying 
a stolen television from an electronics store, for example, would make you 
justifiably ignorant.  Buying one from someone on the street (especially 
without a box) would leave you deliberately ignorant, as a reasonable 
person would under those circumstances understand the television to be 
stolen.

If your computer dealer is brought up on charges for his piracy (if he 
indeed is doing that - and it seems likely, going by your description), you 
(and any other customers taking your stance) would also be liable, for 
receiving the stolen property, intellectual though it may be.  And given 
your attitude towards finding out whether or not he is acting legitimately, 
ignorance would be no defense.

Mike Ruskai
thannymeister@yahoo.com


... Cool, I like explosions.

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