Date:         Fri, 4 Apr 2003 20:34:28 -0700
Reply-To:     Bill N <freeholder@STARBAND.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill N <freeholder@STARBAND.NET>
Subject:      Re: copyright law (was GPS in a Westy?)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

I am sorry to be contentious about this, but you are mistaken, as a quick Google search would
have revealed.  Many people in the USA also mistakenly believe that piracy isn't a crime if you
don't take money for it.  The quote below, taken from

http://www.siia.net/piracy/copyright/law.asp

refers to Canadian law, not US law.  There are numerous other sites that explain this Canadian
law.

US law is similar, however.  In both countries it makes NO LEGAL DIFFERENCE whether you make a
profit or not.  In both countries it is just as illegal to give software away as it is to sell
it, and the penalty is the same if you get caught.  I teach this stuff in my college classes,
so I keep up on the law.  Here is the quote from the site.

"Software creates unique problems for copyright owners because it is easy to duplicate, and the
copy is usually as good as the original. This fact, however, does not make it legal to violate
the rights of the copyright owner. The unauthorized duplication of software constitutes
copyright infringement regardless of whether it is done for sale, for free distribution, or for
the copier's own use. Moreover, copiers are liable for the resulting copyright infringement
whether or not they knew their conduct was in breach of the law. Penalties include liability
for damages suffered by the copyright owner plus any profits of the infringer that are
attributable to the copying (Section 35). In addition, copiers who knowingly infringe copyright
may, on conviction on indictment, be fined up to $1,000,000 and imprisoned for a term of up to
five years (Section 42)."

I do agree with you that Canada is not the USA, and, like you, I am glad that's the case.

Bill in the Southwest (sunny Arizona, where it was 75F today)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry and Avery Johnson" <larry_avery.johnson@SYMPATICO.CA>
------------------------------------------------------------

Bill in the Southwest, Canada is not the USA, at least not yet.

In Canada it is NOT illegal to make a copy as long as you do not sell it for a profit. There
are no 'panalties' (sic) for copying CD's here.

It probably IS illegal according to NAFTA but in Canada, Canadian law takes precedence over
NAFTA, at least so far.

Maybe Canada can arrange to be SAVED after Iraq gets SAVED. Then maybe your laws will be
enforced here, but at least not yet.
Larry


>Please, let's not start pirating software on the list.  The legal panalties for this in the
USA
>are pretty steep, and it is unethical to boot.  If the list is used to facilitate this sort of
>thing, that would also be a potential problem.

Bill in the Southwest

----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry and Avery Johnson" <larry_avery.johnson@SYMPATICO.CA>

You are welcome to copies of my software if you cover my costs.

Re: GPS in a Westy?