gwyn@smoke.BRL.MIL (Doug Gwyn) (10/04/90)
In article <113339@tiger.oxy.edu> prophet@oxy.edu (Dale Bruce LaFountain) writes: >P.S. Has anyone discovered the true status of all these 'classic' >][+/e/c programs? Has their copyright worn out? I don't see a >problem with distributing them, since none of them are being SOLD >any longer. All copyrights on programs for home computers in the U.S.A. are still in effect and will be for quite a while. The owners retain their rights in the programs, whether or not they are offered for sale. Some "out of print" games eventually get reissued in special bargain packages. Occasionally, as with Sierra On-Line's "Mystery House", the owner may even decided to release it into the public domain. Unless specifically released into the public domain, distribution of the "classics" infringes on the legitimate rights of their owners.
gammal@CAM.ORG (Michael Gammal) (10/06/90)
gwyn@smoke.BRL.MIL (Doug Gwyn) writes: >In article <113339@tiger.oxy.edu> prophet@oxy.edu (Dale Bruce LaFountain) writes: >>P.S. Has anyone discovered the true status of all these 'classic' >>][+/e/c programs? Has their copyright worn out? I don't see a >>problem with distributing them, since none of them are being SOLD >>any longer. >All copyrights on programs for home computers in the U.S.A. are still >in effect and will be for quite a while. The owners retain their >rights in the programs, whether or not they are offered for sale. >Some "out of print" games eventually get reissued in special bargain >packages. Occasionally, as with Sierra On-Line's "Mystery House", >the owner may even decided to release it into the public domain. >Unless specifically released into the public domain, distribution of >the "classics" infringes on the legitimate rights of their owners. Does this also apply to Canada? -- Michael Gammal Concordia University gammal@Altitude.CAM.ORG