Re: Copyright problem?

[jeffr@bnr.ca (Jeffrey Robertson)]

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?

Presumably the problem you anticipate is with using the Kiersey
thingy.  If it is copyrighted, you shouldn't use it in your
program without their permission.  This may be easy to get;
they might just say "So long as you state in the documentation/
on-screen that the questions are from KTS and you don't change
any of them in any way... go ahead!"

As far as what "freeware" means:  By making something freeware,
you're saying you want to give it away, and don't want anyone
charging to distribute it (above the cost of media).  You
retain the copyright however, so people can't make changes to
the program.

Public domain means you don't care if they use the source code
to write a program that, for example, uses some other personality
test questions, and just uses your code as a framework.

I doubt "freeware" has ever been dealt with in court, so you
might have trouble with people who break *your* copyright.
Your real worry would lie in using that KTS thingy.
-- 
-------------------------------------+----------------+-----------------
Jeffrey Robertson                    |  jeffr@bnr.ca  |      BNR, Ottawa
"I speak for myself, not BNR" - Me   +----------------+       (Meriline)
"Verbing weirds language" - Calvin                      OC-48 FiberWorld