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From: russotto@eng.umd.edu (Matthew T. Russotto)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc,comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: software piracy
Message-ID: <1990Jul2.175034.29488@eng.umd.edu>
Date: 2 Jul 90 17:50:34 GMT
References: <602@dbase.A-T.COM> <26853@bcsaic.UUCP> <8879@potomac.ads.com>
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Organization: College of Engineering, Maryversity of Uniland, College Park
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In article <8879@potomac.ads.com> jtn@potomac.UUCP (John T. Nelson) writes:
>
>Easy question.  Since the pattern of bits is what you have purchased
>and the creation of that particular pattern is a process which is
>patented by Microsoft (for example) you cannot "make a copy" without
>infringing on *their* property.  Property in music and software is
>different from tangible property like hammers and nails.

There is no patent on software.  The Copyright Act permits a user to make
copies both as necessary to run (i.e. the copying of the software from
disk to memory) and for archival purposes.  The 'shrink wrap' licenses
which attempt to restrict both are what is being complained about.
--
Matthew T. Russotto	russotto@eng.umd.edu	russotto@wam.umd.edu
][, ][+, ///, ///+, //e, //c, IIGS, //c+ --- Any questions?
		Hey!  Bush has NO LIPS!