Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!ames!rex!ukma!sean From: sean@ms.uky.edu (Sean Casey) Newsgroups: comp.sources.d Subject: Re: Paying for Shareware Keywords: UseNet forcing Message-ID: <13730@s.ms.uky.edu> Date: 18 Jan 90 19:03:12 GMT References: <2351@cs-spool.calgary.UUCP> <1134@utoday.UUCP> <15410@well.UUCP> <17608@rpp386.cactus.org> <481c2e2a.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM> Organization: The Leaning Tower of Patterson Office @ The Univ. of KY Lines: 26 geiser@apollo.HP.COM (Wayne Geiser) writes: |As it has been explained to me (in print and by those of the legal |profession), one does not generally BUY software. In nearly all |cases, one LICENSES software. Not necessarily. The status of software "licenses" is very much in doubt. Without a signature prior to buying the software, it is doubtful that a software license is binding at all. The copyright issue still comes into play, but there are precendents for the status of over the counter software being "bought" rather than "licensed". |Note that this works much like time-shifting on VCRs. Some believe |that that means that you tape a show for view later on that week (or |so). Others would argue that viewing their copy 50 times over 5 years |following the taping is still considered time-shifting. Interesting that was brought up. Copyright law says that you may receive a broadcast program and record it for private use later. It says you may watch it once, or watch it every day for the rest of your life. That's how I feel about publically broadcast software. -- *** Sean Casey sean@ms.uky.edu, sean@ukma.bitnet, ukma!sean *** Copyright 1990 by Sean Casey. Only non-profit redistribution permitted. *** "You see before you two identical Tiamats." "Uh oh."