Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] .NET on the Mac and BSD

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Wed, 13 Nov 2002, Mikhail Kovalenko wrote:

> Also from the license:
>
> "You may use any information in intangible form that you remember after
> accessing the Software. However, this right does not grant you a license
> to any of Microsoft's copyrights or patents for anything you might
> create using such information."
>
> This sounds like this license prohibits you from using "the Software" to
> create products that interoperate with or outright replace Microsoft's
> products, because you *might* be infringing on their numerous patents.
> Also, it looks like once you've seen their code and then create your
> own, Microsoft can force you to release your work under their license
> because you may have subconsciously copied their code in your work. You
> don't even have to copy it verbatim; coding "from memory" still counts
> under this license.


Isn't this how it always works?  We aren't allowed, for example, to read
MATLAB .m function files and use what we learn there to write functions
for Octave (GNU version of MATLAB).  If you want to write a competing
product, you shouldn't read their code at all.  Microsoft is allowing us
to read their code, remember it, use what we've remembered, but we can't
then copyright what we've written from our memories.  I think that's fine.

I have no idea if a corporation can force you to reveal your code to them
because they think you've cheated by using some of their code.  But, if
you stick to writing only open-source freeware, you'll never violate their
agreement and you'll never have a problem.  You are then allowed to use
their code however you'd like.

Mike

--
To unsubscribe, go to http://mlug.missouri.edu/members/edit.php

Archives are available at http://mlug.missouri.edu/list-archives/