dce@mips.UUCP (11/08/87)
The following is from the UMORIA documentation (moria.doc.1).
Moria is intended for Public Domain, and may not be sold or
marketed IN ANY FORM without the permission and written consent
from the author Robert Alan Koeneke. I retain all copyrights to
this program, in either the original or modified forms, and no
violation, deletion, or change of the copyright notice is
allowed. Furthermore, I will have no liability or responsibility
to any user with respect to loss or damage caused directly or
indirectly by this program.
One of us is confused. I thought that by placing something in the Public
Domain, the author gave up any and all copyrights. Can anyone explain
this?
I don't intend to sell this item, but I would like to include it as
part of a "free" software tape if we decide to work on one for our
systems. I don't think I like the idea of having to spend time asking
every author of every program that comes out on the net if I can
use his/her program.
--
David Elliott dce@mips.com or {ames,decwrl,prls}!mips!dcenj@ndmath.UUCP (Narciso Jaramillo) (11/09/87)
In article <888@quacky.UUCP>, dce@mips.UUCP (David Elliott) writes: > The following is from the UMORIA documentation (moria.doc.1). > > Moria is intended for Public Domain, and may not be sold or > marketed IN ANY FORM without the permission and written consent > from the author Robert Alan Koeneke. I retain all copyrights to > this program, in either the original or modified forms, and no > violation, deletion, or change of the copyright notice is > allowed. [...] > > One of us is confused. I thought that by placing something in the Public > Domain, the author gave up any and all copyrights. Can anyone explain > this? > A little while ago someone posted a summary of "copyrighting" vs. "public domain". From what I recall, putting the words "public domain" ANYWHERE within a package mean: 1) Anyone can use the software for whatever purposes (distributing, selling, burning for firewood); 2) they do not have to acknowledge the authors in any way; 3) they do not have to compensate the authors in any way. On the other hand, simply saying "This package is Copyright 1987 Robert Alan Koeneke" means that you cannot distribute, copy, etc. the package without prior permission from the author. I believe the author may then put a note about "free distribution", but I'm not sure about this one. In a nutshell, if you want to retain ANY power over who copies and/or sells your software, DON'T put the words "public domain" in it. > I don't intend to sell this item, but I would like to include it as > part of a "free" software tape if we decide to work on one for our > systems. I don't think I like the idea of having to spend time asking > every author of every program that comes out on the net if I can > use his/her program. If it says public domain, you can. If it says copyright and doesn't say public domain, you can't. If it says both, the author is confused and you'll have to go to a court if you want it settled either way. > -- > David Elliott dce@mips.com or {ames,decwrl,prls}!mips!dce nj -- nj: ...!{pur-ee, rutgers, uunet}!iuvax!ndmath!nj, ...!ucbvax!mica!nj