Xref: utzoo comp.sys.mac.programmer:2107 comp.software-eng:760 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!think!bloom-beacon!mit-eddie!bbn!oberon!pollux.usc.edu!kurtzman From: kurtzman@pollux.usc.edu (Stephen Kurtzman) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer,comp.software-eng Subject: Re: Work for Hire contracts Message-ID: <11642@oberon.USC.EDU> Date: 16 Aug 88 23:04:49 GMT References: <496@hudson.acc.virginia.edu> <25636@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <25638@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <6682@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu> Sender: news@oberon.USC.EDU Reply-To: kurtzman@pollux.usc.edu (Stephen Kurtzman) Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Lines: 32 In article <6682@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu> imp@crayview.msi.umn.edu (Chuck Lukaszewski) writes: >Please reconsider your opinion. Do you mean to imply that no one should be >able to buy pieces of art -- that we must simply license them? Do you mean >to imply that the video movies we buy at the store should be revokable at any >time? That we license toilet tissue? When you buy a movie on video tape you have, in essense, a limited use license. You may watch the movie anytime you want. You may make backup copies, if there is no copy protection scheme (and sometimes even if there is :-). You do not, however, own the piece of art. You may not make copies for others to use. You may not charge admission to view the movie. The same holds true for any other copyrighted material you buy, be it text, photo, or video. I haven't the foggiest idea what you feel is the analogy between toilet tissue and art. >[...] if you are indeed compet- >ent, and especially if you have specialized knowledge, you can set a price and >negotiate it. And you have the power to say 'no' at all times. I think that is what the original poster said. But he went further and advocated saying no. >Besides, most companies won't hear of not owning the soft- >ware that the contract out. Most companies would buy a copy of a program that solves their problem rather than contracting out. It is cheaper. If you wish to retain rights to your software perhaps you should demand less money, or not work on an hourly basis.