Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ukma!sean
From: sean@ms.uky.edu (Sean Casey)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.d
Subject: Re: Paying for Shareware (Was: Re: v09i070: newsclip 1.1...)
Message-ID: <13986@s.ms.uky.edu>
Date: 4 Feb 90 18:36:26 GMT
Organization: The Leaning Tower of Patterson Office @ The Univ. of KY
Lines: 26


bstempleton@watmath.waterloo.edu (Brad Templeton) writes:

|And with no contract, you also can't use the software without infringing
|the copyright -- except as specified in the shareware evaluation rules.

Brad is wrong. The "shareware evaluation rules" aren't binding because
they don't come under the domain of copyright law.  Copyright law has
nothing to do with usage. It has to do with copying and exhibiting.

Since Brad by posting his software has given his permission for everyone
to receive it, they own their copies. Brad cannot tell them what to do with
those copies anymore than he can tell them what to do with any other of
their personal possesions.

The only rights that copyright law grants Brad is to limit people from
redistributing it or showing it at a public gathering.

If you don't believe me, ask a copyright lawyer.

Sean
-- 
***  Sean Casey          sean@ms.uky.edu, sean@ukma.bitnet, ukma!sean
***  "May I take this opportunity of emphasizing that there is no cannibalism
***  in the British Navy. Absolutely none, and when I say none, I mean there
***  is a certain amount, more than we are prepared to admit." -MP