In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, James Hunkins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
>One caution about reverse engineering; while it may be legal to do, >it is illegal to use 'borrowed' code in other code that you might >release or resell without permission. In some cases this might also >include a method of doing something (IE: software patents). > >There have been many cases recently where companies were sued for >having parts of someone else's code in their for sale code. > >A concern when changing jobs has to do with this. Someone with >intimate knowledge of someone's source code is considered risky to >another company with a similar product. Whether or not it is the >intention, it is difficult to not re-use code that one has seen else >where. And the original code is copyrighted or the implementation is >patented, hello fun with the legal system. In practice that is very hard to do ..... should every piece of software re-invent the wheel ? Complex software projects are now not hand-coded in the way that they used to be, because code is more system-oriented and modular. Even the code creators do not understand how it all works, as they are encouraged to employ existing modules and methods that are known to operate effectively. Not like the QDOS/SMSQ/E code writers though ... :-) -- Malcolm Cadman _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
