Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Michael S Czeiszperger <czei AT webperformanceinc.com>]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

On Monday 25 June 2001 01:19 pm, you wrote:
> Well, of course, it's not a black and white issue.  I could argue that
> once I've downloaded an HTML page into my browser, on my desktop, I can
> do whatever I want to with it, because it's on my desktop.  Why do I
> have to be limited to font size and color?  How did you decide to draw
> that line?
>
> Just like I can take my copy of the Wall Street Journal from my driveway
> in the morning and use a highlight marker to circle interesting ads.  I
> can write a smart tag for my own desktop that does the same thing to my
> electronic view of the WSJ that I pay for.
>
> I don't see anything wrong with writing my own smart tags to recognize
> terms that I'm interested in and highlight them in my browser if I want
> to do so.

There's a huge difference between an individual exercising fair use and a 
monopolistic corporation modifying copyrighted material. An individual's 
behavior only affects how they see a web page, while a built in feature such 
as Smart Tags potentially affects everyone.

What if instead of controlling web pages, Microsoft gained control over 
newspapers or radio? Would it be OK for Microsoft to sell the ability to 
modify newspapers articles to the highest paying lobbiest? The 
web is a broadcast medium like newspapers, radio, and television, and to give 
one corporation the ability to control content is very, very dangerous.

- -- 
Michael S Czeiszperger
czei AT webperformanceinc.com

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: PGP 6.5.8

iQA/AwUBOzd+clgOl/a4Fw2AEQKtbACg3juKCwLmAio6A7tB2a2qSDIItr8An18I
vay/iXjSszxWARgRiSOmkNLd
=eRUf
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----