🚀 go-pugleaf

Standard I'm Not A Lawyer Disclaimer Here...

>In article <ui8VwB1w164w@jwt.UUCP> bbs-cyclic@jwt.UUCP writes:
>>Does anybody know the correct procedures for obtaining a copyright?  Any 
>>and all advice is welcomed.  Thanks.

>Copyright (c) 1993 Bruce R. Giles.  All rights reserved.

>BTW, this is _not_ necessary, it simply provides additional legal
>protection.  _All_ creative work is "born copyrighted;" the legal
To the best of my knowledge, this is correct.  However, the additional
legal protection is, I believe, in the nature of being able to collect
additional damages should you win a case of infrigement.

>There is a central registry where you can send material but nobody
>bothers with software -- it is only used by literary authors.
Several years ago Electronic Arts told us that they were in fact
registering the software we created and they published.  I have no
knowledge of my own as to whether they actually did or not, but I
suspect the phrase "it is only used by literary authors" is not
absolutely correct, but is generally correct.

>As to look-and-feel "copyrights", the jury is still out.  I personally
>find these an obscene perversion of the law by large companies attempting
>to stiffle competition (imagine if Ford Motor Company had patented the
I agree, but in our litigious society you must concern yourself at least
minimally with them.  Don't write a commercial game that looks exactly
like someone else's!  Dazzle us with your creativity instead.

As always, YMMV.  If you get to the point of actually having a product
for commercial publication, I cannot urge strongly enough that you
consult a lawyer, preferable one knowledgeable in software law.  If
you need a recommendation, I will be happy to supply a name or two if
you email me.
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* Evan Robinson                * "I never get sick of zombies.  I just get *
* herosoftware@cup.portal.com  *   sick of producers."                     *
* GEnie: EVANROB               *                        George Romero      *
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