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From: cmcmanis@stpeter.Sun.COM (Chuck McManis)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Copyrights
Message-ID: <132874@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: 13 Mar 90 20:56:48 GMT
References: <5229@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU>
Sender: news@sun.Eng.Sun.COM
Reply-To: cmcmanis@sun.UUCP (Chuck McManis)
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mountain View
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In article <5229@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU> (michael vincen conca) writes:
>Basically, a copyright is treated just like property.  ...
> ...When a company goes under, the copyright is considered
>part of the assests.  

Mike is right on the money here, however, I noticed two companies that
have gone out of business and *not* included the copyrights they held
as assets. Part of the procedure for filing for bankruptcy is to list
all your assets, and while creditors try to make sure every possible
asset is listed, sometimes they either miss software copyrights or
don't bother thinking them worthless. (What does a bank want with the 
copyright to WhizCalc?) It is unclear what happens when the company
is liquidated and one or more of its assets are left unsold. 

Side Note : One of the more interesting things to do here in Silicon Valley
is to go to liquidation auctions. Hi tech businesses are starting up and
failing all the time and that lends it self to a healthy used equipment
business. I've been to three and never seen a copyright come up for auction.


--Chuck McManis
uucp: {anywhere}!sun!cmcmanis   BIX: cmcmanis  Internet: cmcmanis@Eng.Sun.COM
These opinions are my own and no one elses, but you knew that didn't you.
"If it didn't have bones in it, it wouldn't be crunchy now would it?!"