On Fri, Mar 12, 1999 at 08:00:37AM -0700, Bob Lorenzini wrote:
>
> This makes me very angry even after my first cup of coffee. I have played
> with APRS free versions in the past but I had no idea the copyrite was so
> restrictive. I just cannot believe this is legally enforceable. This
> strikes me as using amateur freq's for monetary gain with a propriatary
> mode, in other words you can't use amateur freqs set aside for APRS unless
> you pay me money. I have no problem with someone charging for code they
> have written, but this crosses way over the line IMHO. Trying very hard
> not to be profane.
>
> > BN> applications. Other software engineers desiring to include
> > BN> APRS RECEPTION in their software for sale within or outside of
> > BN> the amateur community will require a license from the author.
> > BN> (very reasonably priced)
IANAL, but I think this is unenforcable. If you have published protocol
specs, and you implement your own receive code, I think your code is
100% legal. He has copyright over the specification documentation,
and copyright over his original code, but nothing more. If there's a
particular algorithm used, he could patent that (in some countries).
If he has no patent, and publishes the protocol specification, or you
derive the protocol yourself by looking at packets on air (but by reverse
engineering his software), I think you are fine.
Re: frequencies being set aside for APRS -- set aside by whom? If it's
the anyone but the FCC, I think you can ignore it. Here in Australia,
our band plan is set by the WIA (ARRL equivalent), not by the ACA (FCC).
Hamish
--
Hamish Moffatt Mobile: +61 412 011 176 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Rising Software Australia Pty. Ltd.
Developers of music education software including Auralia & Musition.
31 Elmhurst Road, Blackburn, Victoria Australia, 3130
Phone: +61 3 9894 4788 Fax: +61 3 9894 3362 USA Toll Free: 1-888-667-7839
Internet: http://www.rising.com.au/
