* Michael L Torrie [Fri, 25 Mar 2005 at 13:32 -0700] > Fortunately you > dont' have to explicitly do anything; copyright is automatic. Free > software is copyrighted. It is simply released with the added provision > that certain freedoms are guarranteed to and certain responsibilities > required of the user of the work. > > Michael
Try unfortunately. Automatic copyright is a great inconvenience. Because of automatic copyright, there are a zillion works out there unused. Some authors could care less if their works are used. Some would like their permission to be asked. Some don't care until they see their work used and turn loose the lawyers to make some bucks on infringement claims. Because of automatic copyright, the author is all to often unknown, and next to impossible to track down. Works go unused because you don't know that a) the author doesn't care, b) you can't contact the author to ask permision, which is all he wants, and most of all c) you're afraid to be taken to court on infringement and face financial ruin. Where is the benefit to society in countless ideas unshared? Von Fugal
signature.asc
Description: Digital signature
-------------------- BYU Unix Users Group http://uug.byu.edu/ The opinions expressed in this message are the responsibility of their author. They are not endorsed by BYU, the BYU CS Department or BYU-UUG. ___________________________________________________________________ List Info: http://uug.byu.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/uug-list
