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From: ear...@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Earle R. Horton)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.aux,gnu.emacs,comp.sys.mac
Subject: ./etc/APPLE. No Free Software for Mac users.
Message-ID: <10152@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU>
Date: 23 Sep 88 16:56:12 GMT
Sender: n...@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU
Reply-To: ear...@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Earle R. Horton)
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Lines: 96
Apple Computer Company has won the "honor" of having a file in the GNU
Emacs version 18.52 distribution named after them. (./etc/APPLE, this
is even better than SUNBUG, which I haven't read yet.) I include a
copy of the file below for those who do not have access to the GNU
Emacs files or the latest distribution of them.
Although I agree in principle with much of what the author is trying
to accomplish in this letter, he seems to have missed or ignored
something about Apple Computer and specifically the Macintosh. The
Macintosh is not a "better computer" than most of the competition, it
has better system software. What sells Macintoshes is NOT the
hardware, which is pretty nondescript except for a few innovative
components, but the graphical interface which is contained in ROM and
on the System Disks. Apple is selling software in the case of the
Macintosh, and when people buy one they are pretty much aware of this.
No matter that the guts of the software comes prepackaged in ROMs
where it is difficult to copy, it is still software that makes the
thing work the way it does.
Ownership of rights to software is a great deal more tenuous at
present than ownership of rights to hardware designs, and Apple is
taking steps in this lawsuit thing to establish just what the limits
of its rights to its own software are. I see nothing wrong with them
trying to do so, particularly since their investment in writing said
software must have been considerable. I say, this is a country where
the courts can decide, and they may be able to do a better job than
Richard Stallman et. al. Furthermore, if I buy any manufacturer's
computer, I am pretty sure I am feeding lawyers!
Well, that's my two cents worth. Now, for an amusing question:
In view of the GNU boycott of Apple, will A/UX 1.1 include GNU
Emacs 18.52, and if so will the file ./etc/APPLE come on the A/UX
distribution?
----------------------cut here----------------------
@unnumbered Special Report: Apple's New Look and Feel
You might have read about the new look-and-feel copyright lawsuit,
Apple vs. Hewlett Packard and Microsoft. Apple claims the power to
stop people from writing any program that works even vaguely like a
Macintosh. If they and other look-and-feel plaintiffs triumph, they
will use this new power over the public to put an end to free software
that could substitute for commercial software.
In the weeks after the suit was filed, USENET reverberated with
condemnation for Apple. GNU supporters Richard Stallman, John Gilmore, and
Paul Rubin decided to take action against Apple's no-longer-deserved
reputation as a force for progress. Apple's reputation comes from having
made better computers; but now, Apple is working to make all non-Apple
computers worse. If this deprives the public of the future work of many
companies, the harm done would be many times the good that any one company
does. Our hope was that if the user community realizes how destructive
Apple's present actions are, Apple would lose customers and have more
trouble finding employees.
Our method of action was to print 5000 buttons that say ``Keep Your Lawyers
Off My Computer'' and hand them out at the West Coast Computer Faire. The
center of the button shows the rainbow-apple logo with a Gigeresque mouth
full of ferocious teeth. The picture was drawn by Etienne Suvasa, who also
drew the cover for the GNU Emacs manual. We call the picture ``Apple's New
Look and Feel''.
We gave out nearly 4000 buttons at the show (saving the rest for
afterwards). The result was a great success: the extent of anger at Apple
was apparent to everyone at the show. Many of the invited speakers at the
show wore our buttons, spoke about them, or even waved them from the
podium. The press noticed this: at least one Macintosh user's magazine
carried a photo of the button afterwards.
Some of you may be considering using, buying, or recommending Macintoshes;
you might even be writing programs for them or thinking about it. Please
think twice and look for an alternative. Doing those things means more
success for Apple, and this could encourage Apple to persist in its
aggression. It also encourages other companies to try similar
obstructionism.
[It is because of this boycott that we don't include support for Macontosh
Unix in GNU software.]
You might think that your current project ``needs'' a Macintosh now. If
you find yourself thinking this way, consider the far future. You probably
plan to be alive a year or two from now, and working on some other project.
You will want to get good computers for that, too. But an Apple monopoly
could easily make the price of such computers at that time several times
what it would otherwise be. Your decision to use some other kind of
machine, or to defer your purchases now, might make sure that the machines
your next project needs are affordable when you need them.
Newspapers report that Macintosh clones will be available soon. If
you must buy a Macintosh-like machine, buy a clone. Don't feed the
lawyers!
----------------------cut here----------------------
Earle R. Horton. 23 Fletcher Circle, Hanover, NH 03755
(603) 643-4109
Sorry, no fancy stuff, since this program limits my .signature to three
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From: r...@WHEATIES.AI.MIT.EDU (Richard Stallman)
Newsgroups: gnu.emacs
Subject: ./etc/APPLE. No Free Software for Mac users.
Message-ID: <8809231927.AA00737@sugar-bombs.ai.mit.edu>
Date: 23 Sep 88 19:27:45 GMT
References: <10152@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU>
Sender: dae...@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
Distribution: gnu
Organization: GNUs Not Usenet
Lines: 34
Ownership of rights to software is a great deal more tenuous at
present than ownership of rights to hardware designs, and Apple is
taking steps in this lawsuit thing to establish just what the limits
of its rights to its own software are.
A neutral businessman might well want to "establish what the limits
are". But when applied to Apple, this is the half-truth that is as
bad as a complete falsehood. You might as well say that Hitler
attacked Poland for the innocent goal of "establishing what the
boundaries of Germany would be", or that Meese just wanted to
"establish the limits of where the government can restrict speech".
What Apple is trying to do is define new kinds of "ownership" of the
activities of other people--to gain a new sort of permanent monopoly
never before allowed. If they succeed, we will lose the freedom to
develop systems such as GNU.
The courts may save us, but we mustn't leave this up to chance. This
is why we are working on an amicus brief.
Regardless of what the court says, a boycott can make a difference.
Given any particular chance of winning, a company will be less likely
to sue if they know this would create ill will among the public.
I hope everyone who values GNU software will fight to preserve our
right to produce it.
Furthermore, if I buy any manufacturer's
computer, I am pretty sure I am feeding lawyers!
In other words, all companies are equally bullies? I don't think this
is so. Not all companies agree with Apple, and only a few are
actively attacking us as Apple is doing.
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From: ear...@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Earle R. Horton)
Newsgroups: gnu.emacs,comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: ./etc/APPLE. No Free Software for Mac users.
Message-ID: <10172@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU>
Date: 25 Sep 88 20:42:55 GMT
References: <10152@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU>
<8809231927.AA00737@sugar-bombs.ai.mit.edu>
Sender: n...@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU
Reply-To: ear...@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Earle R. Horton)
Organization: Society to make my life more fun.
Lines: 54
In article <8809231927.AA00...@sugar-bombs.ai.mit.edu>
r...@WHEATIES.AI.MIT.EDU (Richard Stallman) writes:
>
> Ownership of rights to software is a great deal more tenuous at
> present than ownership of rights to hardware designs, and Apple is
> taking steps in this lawsuit thing to establish just what the limits
> of its rights to its own software are.
>
[Interesting parallel to activities of Hitler and Meese.]
>
>What Apple is trying to do is define new kinds of "ownership" of the
>activities of other people--to gain a new sort of permanent monopoly
>never before allowed. If they succeed, we will lose the freedom to
>develop systems such as GNU.
>
On the contrary, Apple is trying to establish the limits of the
rights of Apple Computer Company over their own products, developed by
Apple Computer Company at great expense, I might add. It is only
natural for a company which writes software for profit to want to
restrict the copying of said software, and to want to find out more
precisely what the legal definition of "copying" might be. Apple's
decision to disallow cloning of the Macintosh is surely an unpopular
one, but if they should establish the legal right to do so, then they
have also established greater protection for the products of others'
creative efforts, and not the reverse. If this means that one cannot
freely copy another's products, and that the original creator of an
artistic work or useful thing has fairly broad rights over those who
wish to duplicate it, then as a programmer I would welcome Apple's
success in this matter. Sure it is morally superior to give away what
I have done, but I don't think I would like to be forced to by law.
I do not know what the results of thing might be, but if your
rights somehow conflict with those of Apple Computer Company or with
mine, then that is why we have courts in this country, to resolve
these differences. I can imagine that possible success for Apple in
this matter might provide me with greater control over my own work,
and with the freedom to perhaps do things which others might find
unpopular. Perhaps someday I will write a truly wonderful program, or
design a computer with incredible capabilities. Perhaps I might even
want to become the exclusive disributor of the thing, to the great
dismay of those who would like to benefit from my creative efforts.
Too bad for them!
>I hope everyone who values GNU software will fight to preserve our
>right to produce it.
>
I hope everyone who makes a living from the fruits of his own
creative efforts will make an attempt to understand both sides of this
complicated question.
Earle R. Horton. 23 Fletcher Circle, Hanover, NH 03755
(603) 643-4109
Sorry, no fancy stuff, since this program limits my .signature to three
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From: r...@WHEATIES.AI.MIT.EDU (Richard Stallman)
Newsgroups: gnu.emacs
Subject: ./etc/APPLE. No Free Software for Mac users.
Message-ID: <8809260004.AA02196@sugar-bombs.ai.mit.edu>
Date: 26 Sep 88 00:04:56 GMT
References: <10172@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU>
Sender: dae...@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
Distribution: gnu
Organization: GNUs Not Usenet
Lines: 51
Perhaps I might even
want to become the exclusive disributor of the thing, to the great
dismay of those who would like to benefit from my creative efforts.
Too bad for them!
In my opinion, the thing that makes creative efforts desirable is that
people can benefit from them. I hope everyone who can make creative
efforts will aim to benefit humanity rather than for so petty a goal
as to "make a living" (a euphemism for "become a yuppie").
I hope that, if you ever make any creative efforts that are useful,
you will do as I do: encourage people to benefit from them, and thus
bring about the most possible benefit.
To judge from the his message, though, it doesn't seem likely that Mr.
Horton will do this. Instead, he is more likely to say, "Too bad for
everyone but me!" Look at this sly liguistic subterfuge:
On the contrary, Apple is trying to establish the limits of the
rights of Apple Computer Company over their own products
Since the subject of the discussion is a program that resembles a
Macintosh and wasn't written by Apple, he has here *defined* such
programs, no matter who writes them, as being "Apple's own products"
(because only thus can this statement be about the subject at hand).
In other words, he has implicitly presumed the truth of Apple's side
in the controversy, while pretending to be neutral.
It is only
natural for a company which writes software for profit to want ...
to find out more
precisely what the legal definition of "copying" might be.
Are we to believe that Apple is neutral as well? You don't think
Apple is trying to influence the outcome?
Apple's attempt to define programs that HP, or I, write as "Apple's
own product" is something I am determined to fight. I am sad that
Horton is on Apple's side. With such an ally, they will be hard to
beat. But I won't surrender just yet.
My previous message got two replies from people who wanted to help
fund the amicus brief. If you are interested in this, the person
organizing it is well!ro...@lll-crg.arpa.
I have also spoken with the lawyer defending Paperback Software
against Lotus. He is looking for people who know the details of
the history of the development of spreadsheets and can testify
about them. Send me mail if you think you can help.
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rutgers!labrea!agate!o...@math.Berkeley.EDU
From: o...@math.Berkeley.EDU (Arthur E. Ogus)
Newsgroups: gnu.emacs
Subject: Re: ./etc/APPLE. No Free Software for Mac users.
Message-ID: <14713@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: 26 Sep 88 19:26:03 GMT
References: <10172@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU>
<8809260004.AA02196@sugar-bombs.ai.mit.edu>
Sender: use...@agate.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: o...@math.Berkeley.EDU (Arthur E. Ogus)
Distribution: gnu
Organization: UCB Mathematics Department
Lines: 17
In-reply-to: rms@WHEATIES.AI.MIT.EDU (Richard Stallman)
I agree with rms, and am appalled by Apple's suit. I hope
they lose. However, the fact is that I am stuck with
a Macintosh II for my use at home, and presumably will be
for several years. (The reasons for this are not so important,
but not atypical--I work in a group of several people, two of
whom already owned Mac's, and it seemed important for all
of us to get the same computer. Funds had to be spent (and
delivery completed) by a certain date. Furthermore, the
purchase was made before Apple announced its suit.) The upshot
is that it is pretty much impossible for me to boycott Apple at
this stage--except, for example, by not purchasing A/UX. Since
I would dearly love to get GNU or at least GNU Emacs running at home,
I will be badly hurt by any concerted effort to block the
porting of FSF software to the Macintosh. Even if you want
encourage people not to purchase Apple hardware in the future,
please don't be too hard on "innocents" like me.
--
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From: r...@WHEATIES.AI.MIT.EDU (Richard Stallman)
Newsgroups: gnu.emacs
Subject: ./etc/APPLE. No Free Software for Mac users.
Message-ID: <8809262141.AA00514@sugar-bombs.ai.mit.edu>
Date: 26 Sep 88 21:41:26 GMT
References: <14713@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>
Sender: dae...@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
Distribution: gnu
Organization: GNUs Not Usenet
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Even if you want
encourage people not to purchase Apple hardware in the future,
please don't be too hard on "innocents" like me.
A victory for Apple would wipe out a large amount of future GNU
software. The result would be that everyone would have the same
trouble you are complaining about now, only much worse and
permanently. This is what I am fighting to prevent.
I'm sorry this fight inconveniences you, but I think it would be wrong
to stop fighting against permanent defeat for all software-sharers,
just to spare you for the duration of the war. I hope you can think
of your inconvenience as your contribution to stopping Apple.