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From: rhys@cs.uq.oz.au (Rhys Weatherley)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer
Subject: Re: Karma & "Free" software
Message-ID: <925@uqcspe.cs.uq.oz.au>
Date: 20 Apr 91 22:33:10 GMT
References: <28057@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU> <3866@ssc-bee.ssc-vax.UUCP> <1991Apr18.162321.19539@midway.uchicago.edu> <f1ngzv_@rpi.edu> <1436@balrog.ctron.com>
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In <1436@balrog.ctron.com> dj@ctron.com (DJ Delorie) writes:

>                       Most copyright statements I've seen in software
>distributed via the net have loopholes big enough for any company to
>drive an armored car through, and will be hard to enforce against a
>good lawyer.  The copyright system is designed to protect authors, and
>the court system is very good at applying that protection.  A good
>copyright, however, is up to the programmer.

I agree entirely.  From my own experience I've found it VERY hard to find
the best "set of words" to put on my software (and I'm still looking).  I'm
not a computer lawyer, and I don't know any computer lawyers (or have the
money to pay one to write a copyright message).  So I've usually been reduced
to modifying the copyright message on someone else's program to fit my
circumstances.  99% of the time I use the GNU General Public License, because
my user population generally knows what they are getting with GNU-protected
software.  Also, the GNU License comes with full instructions of what words
need to be placed where and exactly what you have to distribute.  But I don't
really want to use this license (no reflection on the GNU people - they are
doing a good job which I support).  I'd rather use a license that says:

	(a) You can distribute the binaries far and wide for no charge
	    whatsoever.
	(b) My name and copyright messages must always be attached.
	(c) I don't really want any money (my job pays enough), but I'll
	    take any given to me.
	(d) You CANNOT have the sources no matter how much you beg and grovel.
	(e) If you make money out of distributing my program, then I have
	    some friends in the Mafia who would like to have a nice little
	    chat with you :-) .

What I'd like to see is an FTP site somewhere (or a mail server would be
better) that is the central collection point for ALL types of copyright
messages, covering every possible combination of conditions on distributing
source and binary forms, getting royalties, etc.  Then programmer X can
say "I want a message that does this: ..." and the site will give it to
him/her together with his/her name attached in the required spots.  Also,
full instructions can be included with it as well.  (a mail server is better
for this because it's more tolerant of "questions").

Programmers generally don't know the "legalese", but do want to protect
themselves.  And as DJ points out, most messages won't stand up to a good
lawyer.

Rhys.

P.S. If you want to join the "Society for ENGLISH Copyrights", check this box:

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     :-)

+=====================+==================================+
||  Rhys Weatherley   |  The University of Queensland,  ||
||  rhys@cs.uq.oz.au  |  Australia.  G'day!!            ||
+=====================+==================================+