CompuServe Messages

Brian, I don't think your real world example really bears on what I've been discussing. My point was NOT a legal point, it was this: If you steal people's efforts, you discourage them from engaging in more efforts. If their initial effort benefited you, it is likely that subsequent efforts will also benefit you. If you discourage them from further efforts, therefore, you are likely to be hurting yourself. I believe the most common way to express such a thing is "biting off your nose to spite your face". If you, as a customer, tell me that you will steal my work because my work is being used to benefit you and you want more benefits which you can get by stealing, then I, as a developer, will likely tell you that I won't let you use my work. Don't take it personally – it's just business.