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From: chongo@amdahl.UUCP (Landon Curt Noll)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.d,misc.legal
Subject: Yet another copyright question revisited
Message-ID: <6394@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 27-Apr-87 17:51:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: amdahl.6394
Posted: Mon Apr 27 17:51:59 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 29-Apr-87 02:06:13 EDT
References: <4406@hi.uucp> <6280@amdahl.UUCP> <179@brandx.klinzhai.RUTGERS.EDU> <6013@ism780c.UUCP>
Reply-To: chongo@amdahl.UUCP (Landon Curt Noll)
Distribution: na
Organization: Amdahl Coup, UTS Products Hen house
Lines: 39
Xref: mnetor comp.sources.d:640 misc.legal:1511

In article <6013@ism780c.UUCP> tim@ism780c.UUCP (Tim Smith) writes:
 >In an article, Webber writes:
 ><> Consider company X which sells a Un*x system & software.  Can they include
 ><> code that contains the above restriction, free of charge?  Or in order
 ><>words can one sell Un*x for $Y, and toss in such programs for free?
 ><
 >< HOPEFULLY NOT.  If the software did not add value to their
 >< distribution, they wouldn't distribute it (tossing it in for free is
 >< not a meaningful concept).

What is the difference between giving such software away on the USENET (by 
posting it or passing the article on to other sites), and giving such software
away via tape assuming that the copyright notice and stuff remains the same?
Nothing as far as I can see.  

Now place the software on a tape, along with a 'README' file saying "these
files are provided free of charge as per their respective copytight notices", 
and give the tape to someone.  Are things still ok?  Yes.

Now place the software on a tape, add the 'README' file, and give the tape
to someone changing them a for the cost of the tape.  Are things still ok?
I presume so.

Now place the software on a tape, and the 'README' file, and add on some 
additional software you intend to sell.  Sell the tape to someone for the 
cost of the software + cost_of_tape.  Are things still ok?  I don't know...

 >The plan was eventually killed by Support.  They felt that no matter
 >how many disclaimers that the software is not from Callan and not
 >supported by Callan, there would still be a lot of customers who
 >would call in and expect support. 

Good point, but I am talking about code which we have debugged and intend
to support.

chongo <> /\oo/\
-- 
[views above shouldn't be viewed as Amdahl views, or as views from Amdahl, or
 as Amdahl views views, or as views by Mr. Amdahl, or as views from his house]