-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Monday 2005-11-21 at 20:21 -0500, James Knott wrote:
Carlos E. R. wrote:
A law can take into account such things, including payment for the expropriated land as seen fit. I'm not proposing theft.
Whatever the law, it must always be the authors decision, as to the dispostion of the software. If I write something, you have no right to demand that I release it, under *ANY* circumstances.
Maybe yes, maybe not. If the law (mind, no such law exists yet as far as I know) decides not to take into account such things as author wishes/rights on behalf of the society needs, it wouldn't matter what the author thought/thinks. Laws are different on each country. I don't know what yours are, but I know that here things can be expropriated by the state if there is good reason for it, and the reason be legislated. Of course, you can go to court and fight it. For example, if the government decides to make a road through my land, and I don't want to sell, they expropriate, house and what ever included, and I'd be paid a certain (insufficient) amount. And my private concerns be f*. That's how roads are built here. What is different about software property there? Intellectual property? Patents? Perhaps because they are the tools for the sustenance of a group of people? Which reminds me... in some countries patents protecting certain expensive pharmaceuticals (for aids) have been deemed sort of public property. I'm not saying I agree with that. I'm only posing questions... like the devil advocate. - -- Cheers, Carlos Robinson -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.0 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFDgpLCtTMYHG2NR9URAmG/AJ99RueRYAn8+HDA5Uc+fjZZ5COUZQCglBhK wDZ+Ltt4YEvRoYd3dj076fU= =Dr4I -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----