[BC] Arrested for just telling people where to find Copywrited material.

[Robert Orban]

At 03:58 PM 10/23/2007, you wrote:
>Your argument is a variation of the old "Why pay for the cow if the 
>milk is free?"   Not saying it's incorrect, but -
>
>Your analogy is a bit flawed... Note that, since the invention of 
>audio recording, there have been those who "download" content - ever 
>record something off-air?  Same exact operation.  Plus, radio 
>stations frequently gave away those promotional copies they received 
>from the record companies - "Not For Sale" - remember that all over the label?
>So, they GAVE the records away.  Circumventing the intent, if not 
>the letter.  Tape made it easier to make copies of favorites - now, 
>the Internet, computers and CDs have replaced tape as the medium for 
>"file sharing", but the act of sharing recordings is as old as 
>recording itself -
>As to the viability - I suspect it's not so much that it's not 
>POPULAR, but that the record companies have it OVERPRICED.  Simple 
>economics 101.
>
>Here's one right back at you, Bob -
>
>How many Optimods would you sell at $100k each?  $1M?

Like any other business, we price Optimods by trying to maximize our 
return on investment, which consists of a lot of different aspects 
including cost of R&D, materials, labor, G&A, marketing, etc. Look up 
"supply and demand," for example here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_and_demand

>   Now, suppose I could get an 8400 - New, In Box - for $1000... or 
> maybe $100.  Would I be wrong to buy it?

If it was originally manufactured and sold by us, you would not be 
wrong. If it was a pirate copy using our intellectual property, not 
only would you be wrong, but you would be legally liable for patent 
infringement (and we could sue for damages) if you used the device. 
It would not matter if you had not personally pirated our IP; U.S. 
patent law says "make, use  or sell," which makes both pirates and 
their customers legally liable.

>What's it worth?  THAT's the basis behind folks who download; 
>probably 90% or more.  The TRUE pirates are the one who SELL copies 
>of the copies they download.  It's as if I managed to completely 
>reverse-engineer an 8400, make copies, and sell them.  OTOH, if I 
>manage to get one of those $1k units...

So should the government force me to sell you an Optimod at any price 
you see fit? Do you approve of coercive price controls? If so, why?

Bob Orban