steele@unc.cs.unc.edu (Oliver Steele) (05/26/89)
jordan@Apple.COM (Jordan Mattson) writes: >[MacsBug not available on the InterNet] has to do with the fact that >Compuserve, Genie, and AppleLink all keep records of who have >downloaded software from them and guarantee that folks see a license >agreement from Apple before they download. The US Copyright office >says that if you are to maintain your copyright you have to maintain >control over who receives your software. This, and several other postings from Apple employees, have led me to worry about the status of free- or shareware, but still copyrighted, programs that are posted to the net (comp.binaries.mac and info-mac@sumex-aim.arpa). Are those of us who post programs here in danger of losing our copyrights over them?
jordan@Apple.COM (Jordan Mattson) (05/26/89)
Dear Oliver - I do not know enough about the law to answer this question. I suggest that we consult with a lawyer to find out the answer. I will try to get an answer out of our licensing group on the particulars. Jordan Mattson UUCP: jordan@apple.apple.com Apple Computer, Inc. CSNET: jordan@apple.CSNET Development Tools Product Management AppleLink: Mattson1 20525 Mariani Avenue, MS 27S Cupertino, CA 95014 408-974-4601 "Joy is the serious business of heaven." C.S. Lewis
ralph@computing-maths.cardiff.ac.uk (Ralph Martin) (05/31/89)
I'm no lawyer, and I dont even live in the US, so I am shooting my mouth off from a real position of ignorance here. Having said that, it seem to mer that the argument "You cant put software on bulletin boards etc without losing copyright, cause you don't know who's downloading it (or similar arguments about licencing, rather than copyright)" can't be the whole story, cause when a shop sells a book, or software package to Joe Public who walks in off the streetr, it doesnt know who he is, and he aint asked to tell em. Anyone who knows the REAL scoop on this stuff like to enlighten us all?