lol err0r = Mr. Subject Matter Expert in the matter of err0rs.
I tend to have the same thoughts running through my mind about it not doing any good. But then I remembered how the corporation I worked for responded. When 1 or 2 people sent questions or concerns, those questions or concerns were pretty much ignored, but as the number of people asking the same questions or concerns increased..so did the corporations concern increase. There was a similar increase in corporation concern when only a few people brought up questions or concerns, but when those few people refused to let the issue die without adequate response.
To me, this whole issue isn't an msn issue. It is an issue on the legality of using someone elses copyrighted work, not for the benefit of the one who owns the copyright, but for the benefit of others basically stealing the use of that copyrighted material. I see this as a foundational issue on the internet. Maybe others don't agree, but I simply do not like to see copyright infringement, because I know that NO ONE likes to think that their copyright might be infringed upon in the same way.
Buzzen doesn't seem to have any qualms using the msn ocx, but I doubt they will be so agreeable to letting their own ocx(if they ever get one finished) be used by chat sites.
Msn might be a huge and somewhat abusive corporation, but deciding that its okay to treat msn wrongly also sets the stage to treat the small copyright people wrongly. Msn simply has more resources to deal with it, than the small people do.
**Edit**
Unfortunately, alot of people seem to think that its okay to 'screw msn' because msn is the big dog and somehow deserves it for attempting to add subscription chat etc. But what alot of people don't realize, is that as soon as people accept that its okay to infringe on the copyrights of the big dog, the little guys also get their copyrights trampled all over. For anyone who has taken the time to write their own chat ocx, how would you feel if Buzzen was using your chat ocx to provide web chat with? I can't see many liking this situation--if it was happening to them.
Edited Oct 19, 2006 3:11 PM by Deanne