On Fri, 22 Jun 2001, Alex Hewitt USG wrote:
> I would avoid copying Red Hat's CD because I honestly can't say that it
> would be completely legal. Either that or visit Red Hat's web page where
> they provide a link to a downloadable copy ...
Have you read the copyright notices on the downloadable copy? They are
there. Thousands of them, in fact. One in every package, plus a few in
general distribution README files and the like.
And, as Jeff Smith points out, you automatically have a copyright on any
copyrightable work you do. You do not have to explicitly declare such. I own
the copyright on the message you are reading right now. Of course, by posting
it to a public mailing list, one could make the legal argument that I am
implicitly placing it in the public domain.
> I find it odd that they put a copyright notice on their CDs and then give
> a link to the .iso image files.
Microsoft provides links to all sorts of files on their websites. Most of
them are provided under very restrictive copyrights and licenses.
Just because something is linked to on the Internet does not mean you have
the legal right to copy, redistribute, or use it.
As I've said before: Legal trouble is the worst kind.
--
Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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