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From: ralphw@ius2.cs.cmu.edu (Ralph Hyre)
Newsgroups: net.legal,net.micro
Subject: Re: Modifying Copyrighted ROM's
Message-ID: <281@ius2.cs.cmu.edu>
Date: Thu, 19-Dec-85 12:57:18 EST
Article-I.D.: ius2.281
Posted: Thu Dec 19 12:57:18 1985
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In article <4712@alice.UUCP> ark@alice.UucP (Andrew Koenig) writes:
>I'm not a lawyer, so take this with a large grain of salt.
>
>> I am curious as to the legality of taking a copyrighted ROM from my
>> own computer and making a copy of it (with changes) and then using this
>> new ROM in my computer (I had to do this to support an oddball disk on
>> my IBM PC/AT).  Did I do anything illegal (Egad!). ... 
>
>When you made a copy of the IBM ROM without their permission, you
>violated the copyright law.  Not only that, but you've admitted
>it. If IBM decides to sue you, I expect you won't have a chance.
>

Isn't there a 'fair use' provision in the copyright law?
(For example archival backup copies of computer software (like LOTUS 1-2-3)
are generally OK, (except in Illinois, apparently)).
IBM would be generating bad publicity if they sued a poor fellow who
needed to modify their ROM just to get his PC to work.
This is like a public-domain patch to WordStar, in my opinion.

>If your friend wants a copy of the new ROM, you must get permission
>from IBM before you make said copy.

True, this wouldn't fall under fair use, but you could certainly tell your
friend what locations to modify to get his system to support the same disk,
then he should be able to do it himself.
-- 
					- Ralph W. Hyre, Jr.

Internet: ralphw@c.cs.cmu.edu (cmu-cs-c.arpa)	Usenet: ralphw@mit-eddie.uucp
Fido: Ralph Hyre at Net 129, Node 0 (Pitt-Bull) Phone: (412)578-2847,578-3275