Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/3/84; site sesame.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!talcott!sesame!slerner From: slerner@sesame.UUCP (Simcha-Yitzchak Lerner) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Stolen software & halakha. Message-ID: <253@sesame.UUCP> Date: Mon, 5-Aug-85 22:49:12 EDT Article-I.D.: sesame.253 Posted: Mon Aug 5 22:49:12 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 10-Aug-85 05:03:04 EDT References: <1768@reed.UUCP> Organization: Lotus Development Corp Lines: 40 > *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** to save space, I am not includeing the original... While you don't want a responce of dina d'malchut dina, there are specific laws protecting intellectual property, and these laws specifically include software. It is a theft not only in the eyes of the law, but you (not personal you) ARE taking away from someone's parnosa (mine!!). Aditionaly, the licence agreement is a contract that you accept when you buy the package, and breaking the seal **in halacha** is an acceptable kinyan, obligating you to keep the agreement. The dinim of vows would thereby aply. Also, halacha does recognize copywrite concepts, and software is generaly deemed to fall under this type of restriction. True, there is a time limit, but then, even a few years of protection is not the same as none. And finally, software vendors DO NOT ship with the expectation of being robbed (thereby implying they have already given up hope...). They are activly fighting it, and are adapting new technology to make it almost impossible [hardware key/keyring proposal by ADAPSO - more info in net.micros.pc if you're interested]. In summation, not only would it be a chilul hashem for a jew to steal software, but this halachic situation would be dubious at best... Peace -- Opinions expressed are public domain, and do not belong to Lotus Development Corp. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Simcha-Yitzchak Lerner {genrad|ihnp4|ima}!wjh12!talcott!sesame!slerner {cbosgd|harvard}!talcott!sesame!slerner slerner%sesame@harvard.ARPA