Interesting item in The Reg about how Penguin (books) and some bird called Katie Dirtbox (or something) have decided to try and appropriate katie.com from the legitimate owner, thus causing her a great deal of hassle and bad vibes. Legal threats, bad-publicity, you name it, katie.com has had it.
Now this isn’t really of earth-shattering importance I grant you, but it is a simple example of something that humans really need to learn.
The law only exists to protect money and power
So why does everyone have to be so interested in it ? Why does every mailing list, blog (yes including this one now…), discussion forum and debate always have to go through long periods of discussion about whether something may or may not be legal ?
It doesn’t matter! If the lawyers are set on you by enough money and power, you’re fucked. Whether they win the case, or spend you to death, they’ll get you. Whenever you see some arsehat on some mailing list say “IANAL” say “Yes! You Anal!”. Stop worrying about it. Stop making out that there is any logic behind the law. It, and its well-paid soldiers, are there to screw you…and they will. Lawyers never lose, even if they lose.
So, please, please hear me people:
- Don’t play their game, you’ll just encourage them! – if you’re concerned that something you’re doing might not be legal ie it’s something that isn’t clearly illegal, then do it anyway. If you start getting threatening letters from the soldiers of satan then reassess.
- Stand up to the bullies – their main tactic is to scare you into complying. If you are clearly in the wrong then back down and they will too. Otherwise wipe your arse on their letter. DON’T RESPOND!
- Don’t keep going on about it! If “you anal” then shut up and stop ruining the mailing list.
- If you do end up in legal muck, go out firing!
OK, I know there are exceptions to the rules. People sometimes do win when they deserve to (morally, not legally I mean). But they are just that…exceptions to the rule. Yes, Microsoft’s lawyers did leave me alone after their initial threats, but not because they realised they were in the wrong. They could choose to return at any time, and they’d win.
DRM and software patent suits are the next Big Thing, and the more people humour the lawyers, the more stifled and restricted all of our lives are going to become. Don’t play!
Rant over.
