Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!bellcore!rutgers!mit-eddie!ll-xn!ames!lll-tis!oodis01!uplherc!sp7040!obie!wes
From: wes@obie.UUCP (Barnacle Wes)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Jos Vermaseren - Posting GEMDOS ... (illegality)
Summary: Doesn't matter...
Message-ID: <91@obie.UUCP>
Date: 9 Jul 88 15:38:48 GMT
References: <4730@killer.UUCP> <376@mfgfoc.UUCP> <11767@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>
Organization: the Well of Souls
Lines: 17

In article <11767@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>, tom@Mills.berkeley.edu (tom erbe) writes:
> But when one uses this program, one is copying the ROMs.  Does the software
> license from Atari (is there one?) governing the system software allow
> making copies for one's personal use?

Doesn't matter if Atari's license does or not, the copyright law (in the
U.S., at least) does.  You're not allowed to give away the copies, but
you are allowed to copy the software yourself for backup purposes.  You
are also allowed to modify the software for your own personal use.
Distributing your changed software is not allowed, as this is a
`derivative work.'  If you have a program that makes the changes to the
software (like a `wedge', or a device driver) you can distribute THAT.
-- 
                     {hpda, uwmcsd1}!sp7040!obie!wes
           "Happiness lies in being priviledged to work hard for
           long hours in doing whatever you think is worth doing."
                         -- Robert A. Heinlein --