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BSA (Microsoft) screws up, targets OpenOffice distribution
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2003 10:15:36 -0500
------ Forwarded Message From: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com> The actual thread: http://distribution.openoffice.org/servlets/ReadMsg?msgId=581265&listName=de v -Declan --- Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 09:25:28 -0800 (PST) Subject: Story on Slashdot regarding the BSA using incorrectly targeted blanket threats From: "Barclay McInnes" <barc () netdud com> To: <declan () well com> Hi Declan; You might find this story of interest: http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/02/28/1317244&mode=thread&tid=109 Long story short: The BSA uses an FTP spider that goes around looking for files with certain keywords in them, and if the site contains files that make a hit, the file is noted, and a form nastygram gets sent out to the site's operator(s). In this case, many of the OpenOffice.org mirrors are getting the notices because, horror of horrors, they matched the "office" keyword. Example from one of their notices: Filename: /mandrake_current/SRPMS/OpenOffice.org-1.0.1-9mdk. src.rpm The above computer program(s) is/are being made available for copying, through downloading, at the above location without authorization from the copyright owner(s) Isn't this some kind of actionable harrassment? They're wasting everyone's time and money with this type of "enforcement". ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Like Politech? Make a donation here: http://www.politechbot.com/donate/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ End of Forwarded Message ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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- BSA (Microsoft) screws up, targets OpenOffice distribution Dave Farber (Mar 04)