Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/09/26

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Downloadable Erwin Puts Book
From: SthRosner@aol.com
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 19:09:17 EDT

In a message dated 9/26/02 6:23:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time, msmall@infi.net 
writes:

> Ethics work on two levels:  actual conflict-of-interest and apparent
>  conflict-of-interest. Let us not confuse the two.  

Glad someone noticed. 

> Erwin's statements in the past that he was
>  independent of Leica at the time were true at the time they were made.

Alright, I've read enough of this stuff. Now tell us Marc, upon what is your 
assertion based?  Apart from Erwin's own claim of independence. You have 
always demanded of others documentation or substantiation of some kind.

One does not have to be paid hard cash to feel beholden to another. It is 
utterly beyond question that Erwin has had access to Solms equipment and 
processes and documentation that is denied to anyone else outside the 
Company. And that access is very valuable to Erwin; it has enabled him to 
become an expert in Leica optics to an extent denied to anyone else and has 
earned him some money, for his sake I hope a lot, because he has certainly 
worked hard on his book and othe writings. 

Please don't insult our LUG readers by answering that that is not sufficient 
incentive for him to wish to keep Solms happy and continuing to get that 
access and special treatment.

And mind you, I am not saying that it is wrong; it is not! 

But in order for Erwin's reader to assess the extent to which his tests and 
evaluations are truly objective and the extent to which that reader wishes to 
rely on them when deciding to lay out big money for Leica gear, Erwin should 
long ago have disclosed the nature and extent of his relationship with Solms.

Now I'm off to Portland for LHSA. I'm looking forward to seeing some of you 
there.

Seth              LaK 9
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