don@uofm-cv.UUCP (06/07/83)
Since nobody seems to be able to give a clear answer to some of the stickier legal questions about software copying and use, I'll open a real can of worms by asking what is ethical. I propose the following guideline for ethical/unethical software copying: It is unethical to copy software if making the copy in question would deprive the software vendor of a legitimate sale. Any copy which does not deprive the vendor of a legitimate sale is ethical. I'm not sure if this clarifys the issue or if it just muddys things further by bringing up the question of what a "legitimate sale" is. Now for the FLAME: "the line between piracy and backups is exactly where the vendor draws it." BULL****! I agree that software producers should be protected against the sale of unauthorized copies, and Federal copyright law does give them this protection, but I think some software producers have a lot of gall trying to tell users what they can or cannot do with a software package. The companys that sold me my hardware wouldn't dare tell me what I can or cannot use it for. If I buy software and I want to make 20 backup copies, disassemble it, transfer it from cassette to disk, etc., for my own personal use, that's my business, not the software vendors. I'm sick and tired of the software house apologists who want everything on a silver platter. Don Winsor Ann Arbor, MI
msimpson%bbn-unix@sri-unix.UUCP (06/08/83)
From: Mike Simpson <msimpson@bbn-unix> Brint, A viable point. But that's not what Don is referring to; at least, I HOPE not. What I'm complaining against is restrictions on making backup copies to protect yourself against soft/firm/hardware glitches. -- cheers, Mike Simpson Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc. Ten Moulton Street, Cambridge, MA 02238 (USnail) msimpson@bbn-unix OR msimpson@bbnccd (ARPA) msimpson.bbn-unix@udel-relay (CSNET) 617-497-2819 (Ma Bell)