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From: sparks@corpane.UUCP (John Sparks)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Pirates and swapware
Message-ID: <2318@corpane.UUCP>
Date: 27 Jun 90 19:57:38 GMT
Organization: Corpane Industries, Inc., Louisville Ky
Lines: 66



>In article <2494@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> xrtnt@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov writes:
>>Out of curiosity...it it legal to make a backup copy for yourself and
>>lend/give/sell the original?
>>Is this a grey area?  I was wondering what the law on backup says.  If
>>verbotten I'll just give her both backup and original.

Marco responds:
>No, this is NOT a grey area. It's illegal. Period. I guess if you could sell 
>your car and keep a "backup" of the original, just to drive it once a year
>you probably would keep it, right?  Would that rip off the auto maker?
>Just think about it (forget about the laws, for a moment).

>-- Marco


Ok, I want to play devil's advocate (so don't flame me!)

first. two points:

You are allowed to make a backup copy of software.

You are usually licenced to only run one copy on one machine at any given time.

ok?

Now...

It has been said in an earlier posting that you can lend your software to 
a friend and it is legal for him to use it, right? Just as long as you are
not using it at the same time. In other words the software is usually licensed
to be used on one machine at one time.


And there are many places that keep off site backups, right? In case of fire
or something. So there is no law that says the backup has to be kept in the
same place as the original.

So... 
What if you gave your friend the offsite backup, and when he wanted to 
borrow the software, he just used the backup, but of course, you make sure
that you don't use your copy (Original) while he is using the backup?

Sounds pretty much a gray area here, eh? 

Like I said, just playing devil's advocate.
 
(all references to "you" in the above message is generic John Q. Public)

---
John Sparks  | D.I.S.K. 24hrs 2400bps. Accessable via Starlink (Louisville KY)
sparks@corpane.UUCP |                                     | PH: (502) 968-DISK
A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of. - Ogden Nash

---
John Sparks  | D.I.S.K. 24hrs 2400bps. Accessable via Starlink (Louisville KY)
sparks@corpane.UUCP |                                     | PH: (502) 968-DISK
A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of. - Ogden Nash



-- 
John Sparks  | D.I.S.K. 24hrs 2400bps. Accessable via Starlink (Louisville KY)
sparks@corpane.UUCP |                                     | PH: (502) 968-DISK
A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of. - Ogden Nash