Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Path: utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!UOFT01.BITNET!ASPDMM
From: ASPDMM@UOFT01.BITNET
Newsgroups: mod.legal
Subject: BITNET mail follows
Message-ID: <8610141158.aa06719@SEM.BRL.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 14-Oct-86 11:43:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: SEM.8610141158.aa06719
Posted: Tue Oct 14 11:43:00 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 14-Oct-86 17:35:41 EDT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 26
Approved: info-law@brl.arpa

Dennis,

   Consider the alternative to the question you asked
 what would happen if people were allowed to use PD software
for public or corporate gain?   Would  it be fair for you to
sell me  a copy of software  you got free from  PD?   Should
REARS CO.  be allowed to develop  and sell packages based on
PD software?  Ostensibly, the reason Joe Programmer made his
software PD was that he wanted it to be available at no cost
to anyone  who wanted  it.   Any  attempt to  sell it  would
defeat Joe's intention, no?

   Moreover, what were the reasons that Joe made his pgm PD?
Perhaps,   one might  suggest,   to  develop his  image  and
credibility in the  software mkt.   Therefore if  you remove
his header  and place your  own name  on the pgm,   you have
deprived him of  that right.   Note that a  copyright is not
simply the right  to SELL software.   If it's  yours you can
sell it, give it away, or whatever.

   I guess these things seem pretty obvious to me,  so maybe
I've missed  your point.   Maybe  you'd care to  pursue this
question further?


Dave Massey