On Tue, Oct 31, 2000 at 10:37:28AM -0800, Brian Frederick Kimball wrote: > On Tue, Oct 31, 2000 at 11:27:45AM +0100, Giacomo Catenazzi wrote: > > > Maybe they can add a restrictive clause on use (use is permitted only on > > Intel CPU and only with original microcode). > > Can copyright holders control use (i.e. execution) of software? >
A person who has lawfully aquired copyrighted software is pretty much free to do with it as they choose - aside from distributing copies or other activities that constitute copyright infringement. The intermediate copies created in RAM during execution are no more infringement than the intermediate copies of a book created on one's eyeglasses or on one's retina while reading a book. Software which comes with an installed provides an implied license to copy it onto a hard disk. Notwithstanding such implied license, people who have lawfully aquired a copyrighted work have the right to format shift it from a floppy or CD-ROM disc to bits on a hard disk. (Note, however, that Intel may require people to agree not to use the software for certain things before giving them a copy). -- Brian Ristuccia [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
