On Fri, Oct 29, 2010 at 11:44 AM, Steve Kelsay <kels...@sctax.org> wrote: > I see no copyright infringement if I > use a legitimate original copy of a setup media to install a licensed > copy of the software.
One thing everyone should understand: What you or I think *should* be the way things work doesn't matter. I'm describing the law -- the reality of the situation. Copyright law doesn't care that you had a license for your copy. If you and I both buy a copy of the same book, and you loose your copy, I don't have the right to make a copy for you. The same applies to software or anything else protected under copyright law. If the license I have specifically grants me the right to make copies for other people who also have a license to use the software, that would be okay, but I've never heard of such a thing for payware, and I would be quite astonished to learn of it. Making copies for others is usually explicitly forbidden, in very strong language. There is a copyright concept called "fair use". For example, making a backup copy for yourself is considered fair use. Ripping a CD to MP3 for use on your own MP3 player is considered fair use. I suppose you could argue me making a copy for you is "fair use", but I'd be surprised if a court accepted that, especially in the current legal climate. That said, I'm haven't done a case law search. If people here don't like this, I suggest you write your congressional representatives and ask them to consider the rights of consumers as well as copyright holders. I wouldn't hold out much hope for that, though; the copyright cartels (RIAA, BSA, etc.) practically own congress. Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, but I expect I have studied copyright law more than most laymen. -- Ben ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to listmana...@lyris.sunbeltsoftware.com with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin
