Re: [deepLinking-25] What to say in defense of principle that deep linking is not an illegal act?

Bill de hÓra wrote,
> Arrgghh! These analogies don't make any sense on the web. By
> definition I can't steal resources using the web. All I can do is
> download representations.

Perhaps.

But in some cases representations are just as good (occasionally even 
better) than the resource. If you put copyright music on your HTTP 
server you're unlikely to be able to pacify the RIAA by informing them 
that the mp3 downloads were merely of representations, not the resource 
itself.

The point here is that in this sort of case the resource is information, 
and that information is carried in the representation. Maybe music is a 
special case (or one of a class of special cases), but I doubt it.

But in any case, this has no real bearing on deep-linking. A better 
analogy might between the publishing of a URI and a public performance: 
passers by aren't legally required to wear earplugs ;-)

Cheers,


Miles

Received on Thursday, 25 July 2002 19:24:52 UTC