(OT) Re[2]: [ale] GAH

[Robert Reese]

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On 7/11/2004 at 1:57 PM Christopher R. Curzio wrote:

>> You are mistaken on many points.  The original Constitution is a
>> singular irreplaceable document that is also extrememly fragile, and
>> those measures are designed to protect it.
>
>I understand that, but you missed the entire point of the analogy.

I don't think I did.


> I would
>argue that the original document, while it would suck tremendously if
>lost, is easily replacable. There are billions of copies of the original
>text out there. Our government wouldn't collapse if the original paper
>copy of the constitution burned up. 

No, the government won't collapse, but it would be a disaster of historical
proportions.  And no, the original cannot be replaced.  A duplicate, and
most likely a very poor duplicate, can be created but the original cannot
be 'replaced'.


>> By the way, you are not restricted from making copies of the gift-shop 
>> purchase either, though the cost of the copy available at the gift-shop 
>> should not be profit-making either as it should only be enough to cover 
>> just the production and distribution costs involved for the purchase.

>No, there is a profit motive there; much of the costs go into maintaining
>those security measures of which you spoke, along with the facilities
>themselves, paying the staff, etc. 

I stand corrected; as long as it creates less burden on taxpayers, you are
right that they should seek to recoup as much costs as possible in this
manner.


>> Other than a few hundredths of a cent for distribution,
>> what costs are involved with the production (paid for by tax dollars)
>> and the distribution (also paid for by tax dollars *and* also volunteer
>> mirrors) of an E-Book?  We all know the answer is *none*, of course.

>You're assuming that it's the government that is selling this document.
>You're incorrect. Amazon is selling the e-book document, and its publisher
>is NuVision Publications - both of which are for-profit entities. Tax
>dollars don't factor into this equation anywhere. 

>The original text was created by the founders of the US
>government, and the e-book of that document was created by NuVision
>Publications using licensed technology from Microsoft - also a for-profit
>entity. 

I see now where you are getting NuVision Publications.  It wasn't clear on
Amazon's page until I actively sought out the publisher information as a
result of your bringing it to my attention.  Amazon should be more clear as
to who is offering the product, rather than claiming it is the government.


>> There should be no charge whatsoever for the U.S. Government
>> produced E-Book, and absolutely no DRM attached to said E-Book.
>
>I agree. But this is not the case here. 

I see now.  Thank you.

Cheers,
Robert Reese~

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