🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <slrn89dpro.7ob.cbbrowne@knuth.brownes.org>,
Christopher Browne <cbbrowne@hex.net> wrote:
>People may own media.  They may own computers.  But unless there was
>an agreement to transfer ownership, they do not own the software
>unless they are the authors.  Not even with GPLed stuff.

   I am somewhat confused by exactly what we're talking about owning here.
The authors own the copyright.  I own the copy.  In general, owning an
object has nothing to do with one's right (or lack thereof) to copy it.
Generally speaking, I can own something (a car, say) and not have the
right to copy it; I can also copy things which I don't own. 
   I don't believe the expression (as an intangible idea) itself has any
attached property rights, though either a physical incarnation (copy) or
the government-granted monopoly does.  It would help if you specified
exactly what you mean by "own the software" (i.e. whether you mean one of
the above two, or some sort of "configuration of bits on the media" or
what).

Lynn