Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ucsd!sdcc6!sdcc10!cs163afu
From: cs163afu@sdcc10.ucsd.EDU (Some call me...Tim)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: ROM hacks
Summary: Probably illegal
Message-ID: <110@sdcc10.ucsd.EDU>
Date: 17 May 89 22:50:07 GMT
References: <8905171847.AA01433@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu>
Reply-To: cs163afu@sdcc10.ucsd.edu.UUCP (Some call me...Tim)
Organization: University of California, San Diego
Lines: 29

In article <8905171847.AA01433@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu> cmm1@CUNIXA.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU (Christopher M Mauritz) writes:
>Would I have any legal problems with Atari if I disassembled the ROM
>code, altered it to suit my individual needs, and then burned a new set
>of ROMs for my machine?  I also stated that the ROMS would be used only
>in my machine and that (1) I would not release the original code to
>anyone and (2) I wouldn't release the bastardized code to anyone
>either.  All of this is for my own little 1040ST.
>
>Well, a Mr. Townsend replied that he thought the process was illegal,
>but he didn't give a reason.  

I think that technically he's right.  A Copyright "gives the owner
the exclusive right...to prepare derivative works."  I doubt,
however, you would need fear prosecution by Atari as long as you
don't distribute anything.

> Myself and a
> couple of friends are really impatient for the ROM upgrade (which
> Tramiel just said wouldn't be available anyway for the 1040)

The ROM upgrade should be available for all ST's.  I know for a fact
that it works on 1040's and Megas, and it should work on 520's as
well.  It just won't be available to the general public for a number
of months--however long it takes for the ROMs to be produced in
large quantities and sent to dealers.  

-----------
Tim Mensch.
tmensch@ucsd.edu