SOFT-WEAR

Name: Oneil McQuick  Date: July 23, 2005  School: BCC  Class: SPC1600
Task: Just thought to write on this subject since it has become extraordinarily frequent in my life and possible do as a thesis if my last speech on culture was done, to note the cultural change of software and computers in my life.

A software is an independent computer program that is loaded to a computer for different functionality. It is different from Hardware, in that hardware is built into the computer. Examples of Hardware would be an Intel chip, motherboard; even your mouse or keyboard can be considered hardware. But softwares are typically not static in a sense but programs the Hardware uses for different purposes. For example, most persons use Microsoft word to type letters, Microsoft word is a software; Outlook to send emails, Paint to view/edit pictures, Windows Media player to listen music and others are all softwares.

Jumping over much technical information needed to be explained, the point I want to get to is this, I once thought using a copy of someone’s software was wrong, even compared it to stealing, but in truth and in fact it is not. Many even deem it illegal. However, I have bought softwares and shared them with others and that is no different from me share my clothes, car, books, videos, DVD’s with my friend. I bought it and can share it with anyone I please. For instance, if I have a shirt that I bought and I don’t want it anymore and decide to give it to my friend or give it to a donation online, would J.C. Penny or Nike come after me saying I violated copyright practices because I gave away a shirt that I owned. No! Then what is the big deal with my own software shared with others and vice versa becoming or considered illegal? That’s absurd. It’s my software I can take it and give it to whomever I choose. Similarly, I could say, it is my shirt I can take it and give it to whomever I please or tear it or burn it up. If nothing is wrong with the latter sentence then nothing should also be wrong with the one before it. Hence, software should be treated as soft-wear.

The problem comes in with this narration, “Computer programs and databases also are considered literary works” (copyright.org). Books are literary work, but if I take my book and give it to someone or vice versa, is that illegal? No, that is done daily. So the software companies have misunderstood the law and seek gains from innocent individuals. Where the copyright law comes in for them is if someone took their software, copied it and begin selling it wholesale from their site or on CD-ROM. Or took their intricate software details, if there is such a thing, and made an exact copy for wholesaling. These two are wrong. Not if I take a copy of the software I bought and share it with a friend and vice versa, much like how I would give him my shirt.

Therefore, programs like Bear Share doesn’t violate the law or the users thereof, it is simply people who bought a program and share it with other people who have programs. Like how we would gather together and exchange trading cards. There is nothing wrong with you sharing your program with me or I you, that’s sharing. If I begin to sell you someone’s software from my site now that is violation of law.

The same can be said of music and its Internet sharing. All in all, both bond (unsaved) and free (saved), share you stuff and let freedom reign!

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