Re: Copyright

[sheercon@earthlink.net]

Willie Yeo wrote:

>         And if you want to discuss what is posted on the IDSA website, I
> then have to quote these 2 Q&A from the IDSA FAQ on software copyright.
>
> >> Isn't it OK to copy games that are no longer distributed in the
> >> stores or commercially exploited?
>
>  No, the current availability of a game in stores is irrelevant to its
> copyright status. Unlike trademarks, copyrights are not considered
> abandoned if they are no longer enforced. Copyrights do not enter the
> public domain just because they are no longer commercially exploited or
> widely available. Therefore, the copyrights of games are valid even if the
> games are not found on store shelves, and copying or distributing those
> games is a copyright infringement.
>
> >> Haven't the copyrights for old games (like Atari & Commodore) expired?
>
>  U.S. copyright laws state that copyrights owned by corporations are valid
> for 75 years from the date of first publication. Because video & computer
> games have been around for less than three decades, the copyrights of all
> video and computer programs will not expire for many decades to come.
>

Numerous posts have already covered those topics and the fact that obsolete software
is still copyrighted is common knowledge. Try to keep up with the discussion.

Thanks,
Brian