Sam Heywood wrote:
>> But since you buy it you can do whatever you want with it - there's nothing
>> they can do about that.
>
>From a legal standpoint this does not appear to be a good argument at all.
>Just because you legally own something doesn't mean that you cannot be
>effectively prohibited from modifying it. Take for example automobile
>emission systems, automobile air-conditioning systems, automobile mufflers,
>CB radios, household plumbing and wiring and heating systems, firearms,
>ammunition, etc. The powers that be can pass all kinds of laws regulating
>the modifications that you are allowed to perform on your own possessions.
>I know that many of us don't like the way we have to comply with so many
>regulations and controls, but that is the way it is. We are not always at
>liberty to do our own thing, especially in areas where the lawmakers feel
>that we should be subject to having certain controls imposed upon us.
You are mostly correct, but as long as there is no *law* against changing
something then you can go ahead and do whatever you want with it. AFAIK
there's no law against changing things in this machine in the US - on the
other hand there are laws against using it to murder someone <g>. If on the
other hand you rented it then they could say that you weren't allowed to
change anything in it. Of course if you open it and it somehow gets damaged
then that's entirely your problem.
Still, no chance of it coming here soon anyway.
//Bernie
http://bernie.arachne.cz/ DOS programs, Star Wars ...
