The Boys From Brazil - thoughts on cloning Nazi servers (fwd)

[Jim Choate <ravage@ssz.com>]

Forwarded message:

> Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 10:49:19 -0800 (PST)
> From: Simon Spero <ses@tipper.oit.unc.edu>
> Subject: The Boys From Brazil - thoughts on cloning Nazi servers
> 
> There's a fine line between defending someones freedom of speech, and 
> actively promoting that speech. The reason these mirrors have been set up 
> is to counter the restriction on access to the original site that has 
> been put in place by Deutche Telecom; however, in addition to defeating 
> this restriction, this approach also makes the material more widely 
> available than it was previously, which could be seen as crossing the 
> line between defence of free speech, and active promotion. 
> 

I would counter and say that there is no distinction between free speech and
promoting said speech. How does one say one party has the right to make a
statement and a second party does not have the right to agree? The whole
point of freedom of speech is to prevent limitations on distribution of
information (aka speech, writting, source code, executables, video, audio
tapes, etc.). Even use of these materials (ie running a virus) would not
violate either the spirit or the letter of the law unless it harmed another
person or somehow took advantage of their property (physical or
intellectual) without their prior consent. 


                                             Jim Choate
                                             CyberTects
                                             ravage@ssz.com