----- Original Message -----
From: "Oliver Sturm" <sturm@...>
To: "Helen Borrie" <IBDI@egroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2000 6:23 AM
Subject: Re: [IBDI] PHOENIX IN ASCENDANT
> Hallo Helen,
>
> Am Samstag, 29. Juli 2000 um 12:20:37, haben Sie geschrieben:
>
> >> >He won't release the user documentation.
> >> 1. I have downloaded the user documentation from IB6.0 Beta and is
very
> >>good.
>
> > It cannot be legally published. It isn't Open Document, it's copyright
to
> > Inprise.
>
> Someone who knows all the content might accidentally write it down
> while dreaming badly.
Lets not forget how Compaq(I think it was them) "stole" the BIOS from IBM to
start the PC clone revolution. They payed some engineers to document the
functions of the BIOS. They then paid another group of engineers, who never
saw the BIOS to write a BIOS based on the documention of the first group. It
was perfectly legal, and stood the test in court.
I for one, have not nearly completely read the manuals. And even if I did, I
would not remember most of it. I get most of my help from the online help,
hacking and new and old newsgroup messages. So people like myself could
probably write chapters of the documentation without violating any copyright
laws. And also, don't quote me on this, but I have heard numerous times,
that it is not copyright infringement if the material is 30% different from
the original. So I guess if we change every 3rd word, we'd be ok?
It would be nice if we could get some REAL legal input on this. Any
lawyers(is the Brittish word barrister?) out there?