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From: cse0507@desire.wright.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: ProDOS CD (Prefix)REFRESH
Message-ID: <1267.26fbd5b1@desire.wright.edu>
Date: 23 Sep 90 02:20:49 GMT
References: <23046.chatter.infoapple@pro-beagle>
Lines: 17

> I have an old copy of "Command.Com".  It was written by Les Kay and David
> Sugar.  I don't know if it is or isn't public domain.  I don't even know if
> Pinpoint exists anymore (done in by Beagle Bros. TO Series I would guess). 
> If I find that the software is no longer copyrighted I will send a copy to
> requestees.

From what I understand, copyrights never die, only patents. Hence Gone With the
Wind is still copywritten. It also depends on who did the copyright. If an
individual owns the rights, they could have sold them to someone else, but if
that other party dissapears (such as a defunct company) then the rights of that
company to produce the software could revert back to the individual(s).
Actually, the idea of copyrights is to protect artistic expression, so even if
there is no mention of copyrights on the literature or software, it is still
copywritten automaticly, just not registered. It really gets kind of confusing,
so the best bet would be to contact the parties involved and get word direct
rather than wait until somebody traces the copying of materials they have the
copy right to back to you.