Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!amdahl!dlb!plx!slvblc!dick
From: dick@slvblc.UUCP (Dick Flanagan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: MEAN18 AUTHOR REPLIES TO POSTING:
Message-ID: <1157@slvblc.UUCP>
Date: 16 Mar 88 03:51:13 GMT
References: <235400004@prism> <235400005@prism> <2963@pbhyf.UUCP>
Sender: uupc@slvblc.UUCP
Reply-To: slvblc!dick@ucscc.UCSC.EDU (Dick Flanagan)
Distribution: na
Organization: SLV Systems Group, Ben Lomond, California
Lines: 36
Summary: Ignorance is not bliss; it's ignorant!
Disclaimer: none


In article <2963@pbhyf.UUCP> che@pbhyf.UUCP (Mitch Che) writes:
> I can choose to distribute material that I have copyrighted in the public
> domain.  I do not have to give up "copyrights" (so to speak) to place
> something in the public domain.  [...] a lot of authors of public domain
> and shared software . . . ain't about to give up their copyrights.

A totally nonsensical posting.

I am continually amazed at the level of ignorance (usually accompanied by
an equal measure of arrogance) exhibited by some people on the copyright
vs. public domain issue.  I will be as brief as I can so as not to tax
some attention spans.

"Copyrights" and "Public Domain" are mutually exclusive!
                                     ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^
"Copyright" means I have a legal right to exercise some level of control
over a copyrightable work, and I am excercising some or all of that right.

"Public Domain" means NO ONE has a legal right to exercise ANY level of
control over an otherwise copyrightable work.  It is free, public property!

If I give everyone the right to copy, distribute, and use my copyrighted
work, I have NOT placed it in the Public Domain, nor have I given up my
copyright.  I have mearly relinquished some of my rights under the copyright,
while retaining all others.

Please do not confuse Public Domain with publically-available-for-
unlimited-distribution-and-use-at-no-or-minimal-charge.  The first is
a legal concept.  The second is a social/marketing concept.

Dick

--
Dick Flanagan, W6OLD                         GEnie: FLANAGAN
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