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From: rlw@ttardis.UUCP (Ron Wilson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2,comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,misc.legal
Subject: Re: Do *NOT* reveal or mention "hacking" information
Message-ID: <2655@ttardis.UUCP>
Date: 28 Nov 90 18:25:51 GMT
Organization: Gallifrey
Lines: 52

In article <1990Nov17.013618.6493@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>, jb10320@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Desdinova) writes:
>In article <14476@smoke.brl.mil> gwyn@smoke.brl.mil (Doug Gwyn) writes:
>>In article <36465@nigel.ee.udel.edu> new@ee.udel.edu (Darren New) writes:
>>>you may disassemble it, because FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAW SAYS YOU MAY.
>>
>>Reference, please.
>
>Fine.
>
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>..."It is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer
>program to make or authorize the making of another copy or adaptation
>of that computer program provided:
> 1) That such a new copy or adaptation is created as an essential step in the      utilization of the computer program in conjunction with a machine and that
>    it is used in no other manner, or
> 2) that such new copy or adaptation is for archival purposes only and that
>    all archival copies are destroyed in the event that continued posession of
>    the computer program should cease to be rightful.
>   Any exact copies prepared in accordance with the provisions of this section
>may be leased, sold, or otherwise transferred, along with the copy from which
>such copies were prepared, only as part of the lease, sale, or other transfer
>of all rights in the program. Adaptations so prepared may be transferred only
>with the authorization of the copyright owner."
>United States Copyright Code title 17, &117 (17 USC 117)
>
>Your right to deprotect a program is ensured by phrase 2).

No it does NOT.  Phrase 2 grants nothing; rather it places restrictions on
the sentence "It is not an infrindement ... provided:"

>Your right to deprotect a program to use it on a hard drive (depends on
>the definition of "essential", but I believe the "fair use" doctrine
>supercedes the term essential here): phrase 1)

Again, phrase 1 grants nothing (see above)

Furthermore, after talking to one of my lawyer's partners, specifically the
partner who specilises in copyright law, I have found out that the term
"essential step in the utilization" takes precedence over the "fair use"
doctrine.  Therefore, since deprotecting is NOT an "essential step in the
utilization" of a program, no such right is granted.


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About MS-DOS: "... an OS originally designed for a microprocessor that modern
                kitchen appliances would sneer at...."
                   - Dave Trowbridge, _Computer Technology Review_, Aug 90

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