CompuServe Messages

central to this argument is that the data in question is provided by the user, not the author of the data format. If the data format is exclusively the province of the company that wrote the program into which I have entered my data, how does this differ from confiscation of my data? I entered it, it is mine, not that of the author of the format. Hmm…, I wonder what kind of situation we would be in if the "inventor" of the alphabet had applied this principle. Do you see the distinction? Lastly, while I applaud your efforts to ensure that the data format is the most efficient for the task, this is not a reasonable assumption with respect to many data formats that I've run across. Many seem to have taken on a life of their own, with backward compatability being the central criteria rather than that of greatest efficiency. Indeed, some are so contorted that it would be laughable, if it weren't so awful.