🚀 go-pugleaf

>> In article <iViHeB6w164w@mantis.co.uk> mathew@mantis.co.uk (en font terrible)
>> When a plumber fixes my bathroom, I am free to watch, to take notes,
>> to write books explaining the procedure, to tell all my friends how to
>> do it, and even to go into competition.
>> 
>> When I buy a floppy from Microsoft to "instruct" my computer, I don't
>> get to do any of these things.

> No, but you get to watch the computer perform the task, just as you get
> to watch the plumber perform the task.  You can take notes on how the
> software behaves, write books explaining it, tell your friends how to
> perform the same tasks with their software, even create your own competing
> software product to do the same things.

These latter statements simply are not true.  A number of commercial
licenses such as GO's PenPoint operating system include a plank which
requires that the licensee agree not to use any information gained from
their product in the production of a competing one. If you don't agree,
you don't get a license.  And then of course many licenses prohibit
reverse engineering.  Whether or not these provisions are legal, they
represent the limits that the companies want to place on use of their
software.

--
Bob Weiner				   rsw@cs.brown.edu
Whatever it is this disclaims it, except that I said it.
Personalized Information Environments for the people; PIE Mail coming soon.