[comp.sys.mac.comm] Public Domain

Michael.Burton@p3.f200.n226.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Michael Burton) (01/06/91)

   David Brown wrote:

DB> Public domain software, on the other hand, is software in which 
DB> the author has not requested a donation. As you said, it still 
DB> can be copyrighted. The author may still request that noone modify 
DB> it, etc. 

   Strictly speaking, this isn't true.  By definition, "public domain"
material is NOT copyrighted, and the author can't place any restrictions
upon copying or use of that material.
   Copyrighted material which the author allows to be distributed
without charge is commonly referred to as "freeware."
 
--  
Michael Burton via cmhGate - Net 226 fido<=>uucp gateway Col, OH
UUCP: ...!osu-cis!n8emr!cmhgate!200.3!Michael.Burton
INET: Michael.Burton@p3.f200.n226.z1.FIDONET.ORG

time@tbomb.ice.com (Tim Endres) (01/08/91)

In article <127620.27881F6B@cmhgate.FIDONET.ORG>, Michael.Burton@p3.f200.n226.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Michael Burton) writes:
> DB> Public domain software, on the other hand, is software in which 
> DB> the author has not requested a donation. As you said, it still 
> DB> can be copyrighted. The author may still request that noone modify 
> DB> it, etc. 
> 
>    Strictly speaking, this isn't true.  By definition, "public domain"
> material is NOT copyrighted, and the author can't place any restrictions
> upon copying or use of that material.
>    Copyrighted material which the author allows to be distributed
> without charge is commonly referred to as "freeware."

And, just to confuse things more....
I distribute RoloDA 4.0 as a public domain binary (the desk
accessory)  and a manual in electronic form. Anyone may do anything
they desire with these items. On the other hand, I explicitly
retain all rights to the source code.

tim.

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