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Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!isis!kreme
From: kreme@isis.cs.du.edu (Fred Zeats IV)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2,comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.mac.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,misc.legal
Subject: Re: Do *NOT* reveal or mention "hacking" information (was Re: paper clip trick)
Message-ID: <1990Nov15.200548.18846@isis.cs.du.edu>
Date: 15 Nov 90 20:05:48 GMT
References: <2716@polari.UUCP> <11071@milton.u.washington.edu> <1990Nov14.225343.4867@isis.cs.du.edu> <1990Nov15.000626.25016@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov>
Reply-To: kreme@isis.UUCP (Fred Zeats IV)
Organization: Pseudo-Dragon Protection League
Lines: 42

In article <1990Nov15.000626.25016@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> stevo@uniblab.Jpl.Nasa.Gov (Steve Groom) writes:
>[ re: subverting copy protection ]
>
>In article <1990Nov14.225343.4867@isis.cs.du.edu> I wrote:
>>IT IS NOT ILLEGAL.  You have every right to subvert copy protection.  You can
>>do anything you want to the program, you OWN it.  You can change it, modify
>                                      ^^^^^^^^^^
>>it, rewrite it, whatever you want.  The only thing you can't do is DISTRIBUTE
>>what you've done. There is NOTHING illegal about removing copy ptotection code
>>from a program.  Not according to the United States Code at least...
>
>However, some software packages clearly state that you are not purchasing
>a copy of the software, but that you are purchasing a license
>to use the software.

This is know as "shrinkwrap licensing" and the legality of the has not been
settled (or tested).  The argument against them is that you can't have someone
agree to a contract just be telling them they agree.  Without a signature
or something there is no agreement.

>As for the *illegality* of such a violation of license, I don't know.
>"Trade Secrets" are another issue altogether.  The consequences
>are unclear, but what is clear is that just because you purchased
>the latest-and-greatest from XYZ software you don't necessarily
>have the right to do what you want with it or to it.

It also depends on the state.

But regardless, the software with copyprotection is not the same software
that is licensed.

>Read the license.  There's a reason they make you open the triple-sealed
>packages to get to the diskettes.  If you don't like the license don't
>use the software.

I don;t think the licenses are legal, and I don;t think they will stand 
up in federal court.

-- 
| kreme@nyx.cs.du.edu |Growing up leads to growing old, and then to dying, and|
|---------------------|dying to me don't sound like all that much fun.        |
| It is the spectator and not life, that art really mirrors.   Oscar Wilde    |