Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!super!udel!gatech!bloom-beacon!bu-cs!mirror!ssi3b1!ssibbs!jlockhar From: jlockhar@ssibbs.UUCP (John Lockhart) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Copyright Info (Was: Re: Version 1.3 is out!) (LONG) Summary: You can claim anything, BUT... Message-ID: <19@ssibbs.UUCP> Date: 22 Oct 88 01:51:28 GMT References: <1229@raybed2.UUCP> <3274@hubcap.UUCP> <1825@eneevax.UUCP> <10232@cup.portal.com> Organization: Sangho's Public Access Unix, Cambridge, MA Lines: 66 In article <10232@cup.portal.com>, thad@cup.portal.com (Thad P Floryan) writes: > [deleted stuff, including disclaimers] > It was my understanding of the US Copyright Act amendments of 1980 (the > 96th Congress) amending the 1976 statutes (in re "The Computer Software > Copyright Act") permits one to make four (4) backup copies of purchased > software for one's own use. > > Federal Law supersedes any "shrinkwrap" provisos as well as any (inferior) > state statutes. > [more deletions] > Anyone who says otherwise is uttering bushwa. > Thad Floryan [thad@cup.portal.com (OR) ...!sun!portal!cup.portal.com!thad] Let me offer you an example of some stunningly stated bushwa, copied without permission from the manual for Menace, an otherwise-terrific game I've purchased; it was produced by the copyright owner, Psygnosis, Ltd., while the game has something to do with Psyclapse (a subdivision?). "Copyright Notice This software product including all screen images concepts audio effects musical material and program code is marketed by Psygnosis Limited who own all rights therein including copyrights. Such marketing of this product gives only the lawful possessor at any time the right to use this program limited to being read from its medium as marketed into the memory of and expected by the computer system to which this product is specifically adapted. Any other use or continuation of use including copying duplicating selling hiring renting lending or otherwise distributing transmitting or transferring this product in contravention of these conditions is in breach of Psygnosis Limited's rights unless specifically authorized in writing by Psygnosis Limited. The product MENACE its program code manuals and all associated product materials are the copyright of Psygnosis Limited who reserve all rights therein. These documents program code and other items may not in whole or part be copied reproduced hired rented lent or transmitted in any way nor translted or reduced to any electornic medium or machine readable form without prior consent in writing from Psygnosis Limited." It goes on to give some trademarks and addresses, and a "Copyright (c) 1988 by Psygnosis Ltd. All Rights Reserved" notice, complete with the circled-c mark instead of my (c). I have preserved Psygnosis's abhorrent lack of punctuation. This notice has, of course, an exceedingly large hogwash content; if ever I can defeat the bloody copy protection, I will be very happy to make myself backup copies in accordance with U.S. law. But it goes to show, you can *claim* anything on earth you want to. With all these restrictions, it's a wonder that the product has ever been sold in accordance with their professed wishes. Incidentally, I have no idea whether such an arrogant copyright claim is valid and/or legally binding in the United Kingdom (could anyone enlighten me on that?), but it should have been modified for the U.S. release. Also, I must echo Thad's disclaimers: I'm not a lawyer, and you should thus not take any statements above as legal advice of any sort. -- --- John Lockhart ___________________________________________________________________ ...{mit-eddie,pyramid,datacube}!mirror!ssi3b1!ssibbs!jlockhar jlockhar@ssibbs.UUCP or jwl@feanor.stanford.edu