RE: Copyrights and Secrets

[Aflatoon Aflatooni]

I am not sure if it can be completely enforced. Because when you look at it, codes can be changed to look different, but the underlying logic is copied. Also inversely, two codes can look very similar that have been written by two different individuals (there are only so many ways to skin a cat).   A copyright on the source code would have to cover issues like degrees of change, and I am not sure if I personally would like that either.     Aflatoon -----Original Message----- From: Ken Brown [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2002 12:16 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Copyrights and Secrets   I just left an interesting discussion today on the Hill regarding the Microsoft settlement.  They were discussing the request of Microsoft’s Windows source code by.  The following discussion points were of interest to me: 1)  does a copyright of a software cover its underlying source code?  2) if the source code is published, is it protected from being copied if it is copyrighted? 3)  if one views codes without permission and uses it, has that person violated a copyright? 4) does copyright law correctly deal with software or should it be updated to properly deal with these issues and other open source concerns?  5)  is a trade secret different from a source code secret in the sense that the software is published and the trade secret is not?   ken brown