> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 13:35:20 +1100
> From: Hamish Moffatt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: A dose of realit
> [...]
> So can we create a free APRS replacement? Write our own protocol spec,
> develop some software (linux and Windows)?
I am not a lawyer, but I am involved in the development of protocols and
ocassionally need to think about intellectual property issues.
I have not yet found anyone who thinks a protocol can be copyrighted.
I believe that you can write software that receives APRS packets and
even generate displays based on the contents of those packets without
violating copyright law. (You may wish to consult your own lawyer,
as you feel appropriate.)
However, "APRS" is trademarked by Bob Bruninga, so you probably ought
not call your software "APRS"-anything, and probably ought not even claim
that it receives "APRS" packets, without a license from Bob.
My personal opinion is that is unfortunate that somone is claiming
copyright to a protocol; I have yet to find anyone who believes such a
claim has a basis in law. I believe that such a claim only serves to
make it more difficult to make the amateur radio and other communities
understand and respect [the real] intellectual property rights and laws.
-tjs
