[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Re: Intel v. Randal Schwartz: Why care?
In article <4cb2hp$e1h@hecate.umd.edu>, Ram Samudrala wrote:
>Is there anyway this decision can be appealed at a higher court? Like
>the Supreme Court?
In theory. Randal has already spent $170K or so, and this is before
appeals. He has not decided if he can or will appeal.
As a practical matter, if senseless cases like this are going to be
brought, the recourse of an appeal helps little. Even taking the
prosecution's case at face value, Intel is using the criminal courts to
punish innocent infractions of its work rules. Most of us would be
ruined financially and otherwise, by the trial, much less a series of
appeals.
I think what's being shown here, is the inability of the Intel
management at Santa Clara HQ to control its people. Intel has no
incentive in getting it be known to prospective job applicants that
innocent and minor lapses in getting the right authorization to do one's
job can destroy one's career and life. The local security folks,
however, enhance their political clout. The point is definitely made
that as an Intel employee you don't want Intel security piqued at you.
In the wake of Oregon v. Schwartz it's clear who you have to watch out
for at Intel, and it is not Santa Clara HQ.
Intel central management seems unable to control this parochial
self-aggrandizement, even when it's at the expense and risk of the image
of central management. They just don't seem willing to take charge.
--
Jeffrey Kegler, Algorists, Inc.
jeffrey@algorists.com, http://www.best.com/~jeffrey
743 East El Camino Real #338, Sunnyvale CA 94087
Follow-Ups:
References: