Re: Copyright problem?

[nathan@mixer.visi.com (Nathan Mates)]

In article <gs82882@pro-novapple.clark.net>,
Rick Krieger <rwk@pro-novapple.clark.net> wrote:
>I'm going to attempt to write a program.  This will be a learning
>experience so the first attempt will probably be Applesoft BASIC.
>The program will be a personality profile based on 70 questions.
>My question is the questions/scoring/profile will come from copyrighted
>material.  The test is the Kiersey Tempermant sorter.  The completed
>program will be freeware so will I have a copyrite problem?

   Most likely depends on what distribution conditions the original
material had. If you're lucky, they might let you put up a notice
saying "This is Rick Krieger's implementation of ****", and go on from
there.  Or, they might want licensing fees. It may not matter whether
the released program is freeware or not-- companies may wish to
protect all of their intellectual property rights. Further, if you
only use it for personal use and never distribute it, you can probably
make a halfway convincing argument under "fair use."

   As some of the recent copyright discussions here have emphasized
a lot of times, _Asking_the_companies_is_a_good_thing_.

Nathan Mates