Re: No longer free to write your own software either

[russotto@wanda.vf.pond.com (Matthew T. Russotto)]

In article <39BC0A4C.C71846A6@aol.com>,
Marsha Jackson  <menacechgo@aol.com> wrote:
}
}
}Matthew T. Russotto wrote:
}
}> Marsha Jackson  <menacechgo@aol.com> wrote:
}> }There is a difference in copying the 'look and feel' of software for personal
}> }use, and doing the same and selling it.
}>
}> Only in that you're unlikely to get caught, and the damages are likely
}> to be less.
}
}Copyright laws certain 'personal use' exemptions, so if I want to transcribe the
}latest Steven King to read by my own handwriting, or if I want to recode a program
}so it works exactly like Windows98 down to the last pixel... as long as I'm doing
}it for myself it's perfectly legal.

The only such exemption you'll find is "fair use", which is fuzzy as
hell.


-- 
Matthew T. Russotto                                russotto@pond.com
"Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, and moderation in pursuit
of justice is no virtue."