Xref: utzoo comp.sys.amiga:26924 comp.misc:4480 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!pacbell!att!ihlts!ihnp4!iwtsf!korz From: korz@iwtsf.ATT.COM (Korzonas) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.misc Subject: Re: Software Development And Piracy (Spurred By FTL replies) Summary: You *do* accept a license when you use copyrighted software. Message-ID: <125@iwtsf.ATT.COM> Date: 21 Dec 88 23:31:21 GMT References: <3121@sugar.uu.net> <2854@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu> <3127@sugar.uu.net> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, Illinois Lines: 44 Those of you who have never seen a license agreement either only have pirated software in your posession or have been too excited to read it when you were tearing the wrapper off your software. Every piece of non-PD software that I have seen has its disks packaged separately or the license agreement is on the outside of the package. Here is an example (note that I am paraphrasing so as not to infringe on the author's copyright on the license agreement): ATTENTION: Before opening this package containing your software, read the LIMITED USE SOFTWARE LICENSE, in the user's manual. By opening this package, you indicate that you have read and accept the LIMITED USE SOFTWARE LICENSE. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The LICENSE notes, among other things: 1. If you don't agree to the terms of the license, return all the manuals and disk packages with the seals unbroken to your dealer along with your receipt and you will get a refund. 2. All the software AND COPIES THEREOF, are and will remain the property of . 3. allows you, the purchaser, to use the software on ONE COMPUTER AT A TIME. 4. You agree not to disassemble nor reverse-compile this software. 5. You agree to NOT GIVE COPIES TO ANYONE. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Seems pretty clear-cut to me. The thing that I believe makes people think that copying software is not stealing is that they have trouble separating material property from intellectual property. If you worked on an idea for a year and wrote software that implemented that idea, wouldn't you feel that anyone who used your product owed you something for your efforts? Actually, I feel that good ideas are harder to develop than good material items. Al.