On May 5, 2008, at 1:07 PM, steve landay wrote:
pmfji guys,
Curious about the legal question (if there is any) regarding
contributing and disbursing samples / software, etc.
It would seem to me that since we're talking about proprietary
equipment which is no longer in production (sampler and samples/
software for the s760), that there is no longer any threat of lost
sales due to anyone copying and giving away support material etc
that would and could otherwise still be profitable for the company
if said equipment and software were still in production and
generating profits of course.
while i am not an expert, just because a piece of gear isn't
manufactured anymore doesn't mean that support software, patches, etc
become public domain. there is a base of users who still retain their
equipment - the current group a case in point - and is a viable
potential market still, so there could be some basis for a claim of
infringement.
Sure, legally the manufacture (as long as they're
still in
business) will always own the property that we're "allowed" to use,
but really now, would they even bother with taking a case to court
over this? Would they even be able to convince and prove to a
court they they've showed any considerable significant profit loss
if 'we' were to freely upload and share old files among ourselves?
the law is on their side in a big way.
My feeling is this is no longer an issue and
everything should be
freely shared.
Or, am I missing something?
-s
possibly.... ;-)
cheers
b
bruce tovsky
www.skeletonhome.com
"Sometimes the appropriate response to reality is to go insane."
Philip K. Dick