[quote]Using Software: A Guide to the Ethical and Legal Use of Software
for Members of the Academic Community
Software enables us to accomplish many different tasks with
computers. Unfortunately, in order to get our work done quickly
and conveniently, some people make and use unauthorized software
copies. The purpose of this brochure is to provide a brief
outline of what you legally can and cannot do with software.
Hopefully it will help you better understand the implications and
restrictions of the U.S. Copyright Law.
Here Are Some Relevant Facts:
----------------------------
UNAUTHORIZED copying of software is illegal. Copyright law
protects software authors and publishers, just as patent law
protects inventors.
UNAUTHORIZED copying of software by individuals can harm the
entire academic community. If unauthorized copying proliferates
on a campus, the institution may incur legal liability. Also, the
institution may find it more difficult to negotiate agreements
that would make software more widely and less expensively
available to members of the academic community.
UNAUTHORIZED copying and use of software deprives publishers and
developers of a fair return for their work, increases prices,
reduces the level of future support and enhancements, and can
inhibit the development of new software products.
RESPECT for the intellectual work of others has traditionally been
essential to the mission of colleges and universities. As members
of the academic community, we value the free exchange of ideas.
Just as we do not tolerate plagiarism, we do not condone the
unauthorized copying of software, including programs,
applications, data bases and code.
THEREFORE, we offer the following statement of principle about
intellectual property and the legal and ethical use of software.
THE EDUCOM CODE
Software and Intellectual Rights
================================
Respect for intellectual labor and creativity is vital to academic
discourse and enterprise. This principle applies to works of all
authors and publishers in all media. It encompasses respect for
the right to acknowledgment, right to privacy, and right to
determine the form, manner, and terms of publication and
distribution.
Because electronic information is volatile and easily reproduced,
respect for the work and personal expression of others is
especially critical in computer environments. Violations of
authorial integrity, including plagiarism, invasion of privacy,
unauthorized access, and trade secret and copyright violations,
may be grounds for sanctions against members of the academic
community.
EDUCOM's Educational Uses of Information Technology (EUIT) Program
encourages the broadest possible adoption of this statement of
principle. The EDUCOM Code is intended for adaptation and use by
individuals, and educational institutions at all levels.
Classification of Software
==========================
In terms of copyright, there are four broad classifications of
software:
Commercial
Shareware
Freeware
Public Domain
The restrictions and limitations regarding each classification are
different.
COMMERCIAL
----------
COMMERCIAL software represents the majority of software purchased
from software publishers, commercial computer stores, etc. When
you buy software, you are actually acquiring a license to use it,
not own it. You acquire the license from the company that owns
the copyright. The conditions and restrictions of the license
agreement vary from program to program and should be read
carefully. In general, commercial software licenses stipulate
that ( 1 ) the software is covered by copyright, (2) although one
archival copy of the software can be made, the backup copy cannot
be used except when the original package fails or is destroyed,
(3) modifications to the software are not allowed, (4) decompiling
(i.e. reverse engineering) of the program code is not allowed
without the permission of the copyright holder, and (5)
development of new works built upon the package (derivative works)
is not allowed without the permission of the copyright holder.
SHAREWARE
---------
SHAREWARE software is covered by copyright, as well. When you
acquire software under a shareware arrangement, you are actually
acquiring a license to use it, not own it. You acquire the
license, from the individual or company that owns the copyright.
The conditions and restrictions of the license agreement vary from
program to program and should be read carefully. The copyright
holders for SHAREWARE allow purchasers to make and distribute
copies of the software, but demand that if, after testing the
software, you adopt it for use, you must pay for it. In general,
shareware, software licenses stipulate that (1) the software is
covered by copyright, (2) although one archival copy of the
software can be made, the backup copy cannot be used except when
the original package fails or is destroyed, (3) modifications to
the software are not allowed, (4) decompiling (i.e. reverse
engineering) of the program code is not allowed without the
permission of the copyright holder, and (5) development of new
works built upon the package (derivative works) is not allowed
without the permission of the copyright holder. Selling software
as SHAREWARE is a marketing decision, it does not change the legal
requirements with respect to copyright. That means that you can
make a single archival copy, but you are obliged to pay for all
copies adopted for use.
[COLOR=Lime]FREEWARE
--------
FREEWARE also is covered by copyright and subject to the
conditions defined by the holder of the copyright. The conditions
for FREEWARE are in direct opposition to normal copyright
restrictions. In general, FREEWARE software licenses stipulate
that (1) the software is covered by copyright, (2) copies of the
software can be made for both archival and distribution purposes
but that distribution cannot be for profit, (3) modifications to
the software is allowed and encouraged, (4) decompiling (i.e.
reverse engineering) of the program code is allowed without the
explicit permission of the copyright holder, and (6) development
of new works built upon the package (derivative works) is allowed
and encouraged with the condition that derivative works must also
be designated as FREEWARE. That means that you cannot take
FREEWARE, modify or extend it, and then sell it as COMMERCIAL or
SHAREWARE software.[/COLOR]
PUBLIC DOMAIN
-------------
PUBLIC DOMAIN software comes into being when the original
copyright holder explicitly relinquishes all rights to the
software. Since under current copyright law, all intellectual
works (including software) are protected as soon as they are
committed to a medium, for something to be PUBLIC DOMAIN it must
be clearly marked as such. Before March 1, 1989, it was assumed
that intellectual works were NOT covered by copyright unless the
copyright symbol and declaration appeared on the work. With the
U.S. adherence to the Berne Convention this presumption has been
reversed. Now all works assume copyright protection unless the
PUBLIC DOMAIN notification is stated. This means that for PUBLIC
DOMAIN software (1) copyright rights have been relinquished, (2)
software copies can be made for both archival and distribution
purposes with no restrictions as to distribution, (3)
modifications to the software are allowed, (4) decompiling (i.e.
reverse engineering) of the program code is allowed, and (5)
development of new works built upon the package (derivative works)
is allowed without conditions on the distribution or use of the
derivative work.
Questions You May Have About Using Software
===========================================
What do I need to know about software and the U.S. Copyright Act?
It's really very simple. The Copyright Law recognizes that all
intellectual works (programs, data, pictures, articles, books,
etc.) are automatically covered by copyright unless it is
explicitly noted to the contrary. That means that the owner of a
copyright holds the exclusive right to reproduce and distribute
his or her work. For software this means it is illegal to copy or
distribute software, or its documentation, without the permission
of the copyright holder.
If you have a legal copy of software you are allowed to make a
single archival copy of the software for backup purposes.
However, the copy can only be used if the original software is
destroyed or fails to work. When the original is given away, the
backup copy must also be given with the original or destroyed.
If software is not copy-protected, do I have the right to copy it?
Lack of copy-protection does NOT constitute permission to copy
software without authorization of the software copyright owner.
"Non-copy-protected" software enables you to make a backup copy.
In offering non-copy-protected software to you, the developer or
publisher has demonstrated significant trust in your integrity.
May I copy software that is available through facilities on my
campus, so that I can use it more conveniently in my own office or
room?
Software acquired by colleges and universities is usually covered
by licenses. The licenses should clearly state how and where the
software may be legally used by members of the relevant campus
communities (faculty, staff, and students). Such licenses cover
software whether installed on stand-alone or networked systems,
whether in private offices and rooms, or in public clusters and
laboratories. Some institutional licenses permit copying for
certain purposes. The license may limit copying, as well.
Consult your campus authorities to be sure if you are unsure about
the permissible use of a particular software product.
May I loan software?
The 1990 modification to the Copyright Law makes it illegal to
"loan, lease or rent software" for purposes of direct or indirect
commercial advantage without the specific permission of the
copyright holder. Non-profit educational institutions are
exempted from the 1990 modification, so institutional software may
be loaned.
Some licenses may even restrict the use of a copy to a specific
machine, even if you own more than one system. In general,
licenses usually do NOT allow the software to be installed or
resident on more than a single machine, or to run the software
simultaneously on two or more machines.
Isn't it legally "fair use" to copy software if the purpose in
sharing it is purely educational?
Historically, the Copyright Law was modified to permit certain
educational uses of copyrighted materials without the usual
copyright restrictions. However, "fair use" of computer software
is still a cloudy issue. The "fair use" amendments to the
copyright law are intended to allow educational use of legally
protected products, but it is limited (for paper-based products)
to small portions of full works. For most software it is clearly
illegal to make and distribute unauthorized, fully-functional
copies to class members for their individual use. Making copies
of a small section of code from a program in order to illustrate a
programming technique might not be a violation. The best
alternative is to clear any such use with the copyright owner or
consult the appropriate authorities at your institution.
Alternatives To Explore
=======================
Software can be expensive. You may think that you cannot afford
to purchase certain programs that you need. Site-licensed and
bulk purchased software are legal alternatives that make multiple
copies of software more affordable. Many educational institutions
negotiate special prices for software used and purchased by
faculty, staff and students. Consult your campus computing office
for information. As with other software, site-licensed or bulk
purchased software is still covered by copyright, although the
price per copy may be significantly lower than the normal
commercial price. A usual condition of site-licensing or bulk-
purchasing is that copying and distribution of the software is
limited to a central office which must maintain inventories of who
received it. When you leave the academic community by graduation,
retirement, or resignation you may no longer be covered by the
institutional agreement and may be required to return or destroy
your copies of the software licensed to the institution.
Many colleges sell software through a campus store at "educational
discounts." If you purchase software for yourself through such an
outlet, the software is yours and need not be destroyed or
surrendered when you leave the institution. It is, however, still
covered by normal copyright protection and covered by the specific
conditions of the licensing agreement.
A Final Note
============
Restrictions on the use of software are far from uniform. You
should check carefully each piece of software and the accompanying
documentation yourself. In general, you do not have the right to:
Receive and use unauthorized copies of software, or
Make unauthorized copies of software for others.
If you have questions not answered by this brochure about the
proper use and distribution of a software product, seek help from
your computing office, the software developer or publisher, or
other appropriate authorities at your institution.
This brochure has been produced as a service to the academic
community by the Educational Uses of Information Technology
Program (EUIT) of EDUCOM and the Information Technology
Association of America (ITAA). EDUCOM is a non-profit consortium
of colleges and universities committed to the use and management
of information technology in higher education. ITAA is an
industry association providing issues management and advocacy,
public affairs, business-to-business networking, education and
other member services to companies which create and market
products and services associated with computers, communications
and data.
Although this brochure is copyrighted, you are authorized and
encouraged to make and distribute copies of it, in whole or in
part, providing the source is acknowledged. Additional copies of
this brochure may be purchased by contacting one of the
organizations listed below.
EDUCOM
1112 16th Street, NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
(202)872-4200
ITAA
1616 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1300
Arlington, VA 22204
(703)284-5355
January, 1992
EDUCOM and ITAA
.
[/quote]
This means, I can convert scar into an exe, and redistribute (as freeware) without his permission?