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, MImsimpson%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)