Re: Asimov Site

[CUTblakeney@home.com (Jeff Blakeney)]

On 31 Aug 2000 15:12:15 +0200, pausch@saafNOSPAM.se (Paul Schlyter)
wrote:

>If you create something similar, you may violate the copyright of the
>design of that software....  There have been several lawsuits about
>"look-and-feel" issues already.

Yes, that can get sticky but if the person who originally created the
thing you "copying" doesn't make it available at all, you have a
really good chance of not being stopped.

Besides, today if you are writing Windows programs, no one can really
sue you for "look-and-feel" violations as all Windows programs are
supposed to "look-and-feel" the same.  :-)

I can't really say for sure how many "look-and-feel" cases have been
won by the prosecutors but I know I haven't heard of many.  I know
that Apple eventually lost their suit against Microsoft.

>Do you agree that crossing the street against a red light is illegal
>and can be termed a crime?

Well, as someone pointed out to me recently, I may have used the word
crime incorrectly so I'll have to say no.  I'll agree that it is
definitely illegal but I believe it would be termed a misdemeanor.
:-)

>What do you think we should get most upset about?  The moral issues or the
>legal issues?

I can't really say that we should be more upset about the moral issues
as they are subjective so it is very difficult to deal with.  I
usually try to keep morals out of my posts as my morals are probably
different from others.  I don't always succeed in keeping my morals
out of my posts, though.  :-)

I do feel that people should get upset about seeing blatant violations
of the law, however.  You should be just as concerned about people
stealing stuff out of your neighbours yard as you should about people
stealing software.

>If he would be harmed by it, why isn't he still selling his software?
>If normal commercial routes are too expensive and he wants to cut down
>those costs, he can choose to release it as shareware or crippleware.

Perhaps they don't know there are still people out here with an
interest in their software.  I have heard of a few people who have
reclassified their software that were quite surprised to find there
were still people using Apple IIs and wanted to use their programs.

Perhaps they even forgot that they created that particular piece of
software.

There is any number of reasons why, that is why we have to track them
down and ask them.

>Try that with Apple Computer and old Apple II sw....  good luck!

If Apple doesn't want to release their Apple II software, that is
their right and we don't have any legal recourse but to wait for the
copyright to expire, wait for the copyright laws to change or wait for
them to change their minds.

We could take actions against them that might make them change their
minds, though.  Petitioning them, boycotting their products or
whatever.

>If they consider that piece of software as worthless nowadays, what is
>there to protect?

Their ownership.

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