Perl program as Art Object ala Duchamp's Fountain

I emailed this for Net Art News, but I guess it wasn't picked up. But here's
some absurdity your way:

http://mojo.skazat.com/project/press_release_12_01_03.html

(and posted below)

Cheers,


Justin Simoni | http://justinsimoni.com | 720 436 7701

- Starving artist by day,
- Poetic philosopher by night
- Computer programmer in the wee hours.


Justin Simoni Announces New Name For Mailing List Manager, Turns
Programming Project into Art

Denver, CO - 12/01/03 - Justin Simoni announced today the immediate
release of Dada Mail, (formerly Mojo Mail). Justin states, "I have had
to change the name of my celebrated program due to legal issues with
Mediaplex Inc. which holds the trademark for MOJO Mail."

He continues, "Not that I'm real happy about the name change at all.
This particular program came out initially in December of 1999, with its
first stable release in January of 2000. I'm having a really hard time
understanding why it took Mediaplex Inc. more than three years to get in
contact with me."

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office's website (
http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entryv154709 ), the
"MOJO MAIL" mark was registered to Mediaplex Inc. on November 12th,
2002.

"This is obviously big guy versus little guy and this particular David
doesn't see much reason in pursuing the matter in the legal system."
Instead, Justin has complied with Mediaplex's demands to change the name
of his program. "The decision to comply was simple: Mediaplex has
lawyers, I sleep on a borrowed couch in a basement apartment. It's a red
velvet couch - but still."

More importantly, Justin has also officially turned Dada Mail into an
Art Object, much like the original Readymades of Marcel Duchamp - one of
the founders of the Dada anti-art movement of the early 20th Century.
"Dada Mail" itself is a nod to this original art movement and an
example that a Readymade can still have relevance as long as the object
has conceptual ground to stand on.

"From this day forth, Dada Mail will be the title of an Art Object, not
the name of a computer program. You cannot, as far as I know, Trademark
the title of a piece of Art. I have credentials as an artist and
absolutely none as a businessman or a software engineer. I was an
eighteen-year-old punk kid with green hair when I started working on
this project. If I've learned anything since then, it's that you can
accomplish whatever you try. I'm changing the definition of something
that seemed to be fairly obvious. I hope it at least makes people think.
I can't believe more people haven't done the same in light of recent
Trademark and Patent disputes in the industry."

"Maybe they will."

Dada Mail is Free Software released under the GNU Public License.

Justin currently attends the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in
Denver as a Junior in their Painting and Drawing Bachelors program. A
self-appointed Renaissance man, he strives to be able to make anything
out of anything.

Press Contact: Justin Simoni (720) 436 7701 [email protected]

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit the Dada Mail project
website ( http://skazat.com/dadaproject ) and Justin Simoni's Portfolio
website ( http://justinsimoni.com )

Mediaplex and MOJO Mail are either registered trademarks or trademarks
of Mediaplex Inc.