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From: landman@hanami.Eng.Sun.COM (Howard A. Landman x61391)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: software piracy
Message-ID: <138368@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: 4 Jul 90 21:00:19 GMT
References: <26145@netnews.upenn.edu> <37151@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <602@dbase.A-T.COM> <26853@bcsaic.UUCP> <8879@potomac.ads.com>
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In article <8879@potomac.ads.com> jtn@potomac.UUCP (John T. Nelson) writes:
>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.

False.  It is well established that users have a right to make backup copies
of their programs EVEN WHEN THOSE PROGRAMS ARE COPY PROTECTED AND IT REQUIRES
BREAKING THE COPY PROTECTION TO DO SO.  Any provision of a license agreement
which pretends to deny you this right is null and void.  (This is one reason
why most license agreements specify that their clauses are "separable", i.e.,
that voiding one clause doesn't void the whole agreement.  They KNOW that
some of the clauses are "mere cant". :-)

--
	Howard A. Landman
	landman@eng.sun.com -or- sun!landman