Well, I can own a book, but I don't own the rights to make copies of the book. I can own a photograph, without owning the rights to make copies of the photograph. I can own an album of music, without owning the rights to make copies. I can own a piece of software, without owning the rights to make copies.
I think this is mostly the way case law has been going. Especially if you bought the software on a CD in a store, just like buying a CD of music. You have the right to resell the software on CD, because you own the CD. That is the general rule with anything that is copyrighted. And it is similar with patents. Most of the things I own are probably patented or involve patents. Yet I can certainly sell what I own. I do not own the right to make a copy. On 9/16/07, b_s-wilk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I may not own their IP, but I _can_ own a *binary copy*. > > > > On 9/15/07, b_s-wilk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > You can own a bicycle. You can own a refrigerator. You can own a > >> > computer. However you can only license the code that makes the > computer > >> > do things for you--you don't own someone else's intellectual > property. > > You can't own any code that was created and patented by someone else. > The only thing you can do is own the license, no matter whether it's a > full release, beta, alpha or binary. > > Argue with the feds who come to arrest you for stealing IP--protected by > patent and/or copyright. There's a fine line between borrowing/using > pieces of text or code and stealing any version software, like the > difference between "plagiarism/piracy" and "research." > > The only binary copy you are allowed to own without prior permission > from the developer is the software that you write yourself. This > includes freeware, shareware, GPL. I've had copyrighted works stolen by > people who think that borrowing or copying is the same as ownership. > > > ************************************************************************ > * ==> QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in <== > * ==> the body of an email & send 'em to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <== > * Join the list: SUBSCRIBE COMPUTERGUYS-L Your Name > * Too much mail? Try Daily Digests command: SET COMPUTERGUYS-L DIGEST > * Tired of the List? Unsubscribe command: SIGNOFF COMPUTERGUYS-L > * New address? From OLD address send: CHANGE COMPUTERGUYS-L YourNewAddress > * Need more help? Send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ************************************************************************ > * List archive at www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > * RSS at www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml > * Messages bearing the header "X-No-Archive: yes" will not be archived > ************************************************************************ > -- John DeCarlo, My Views Are My Own ************************************************************************ * ==> QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in <== * ==> the body of an email & send 'em to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <== * Join the list: SUBSCRIBE COMPUTERGUYS-L Your Name * Too much mail? Try Daily Digests command: SET COMPUTERGUYS-L DIGEST * Tired of the List? Unsubscribe command: SIGNOFF COMPUTERGUYS-L * New address? From OLD address send: CHANGE COMPUTERGUYS-L YourNewAddress * Need more help? Send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************************************************ * List archive at www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ * RSS at www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml * Messages bearing the header "X-No-Archive: yes" will not be archived ************************************************************************
