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Who Owns Software?

Posted by kdawson on from the can't-interoperate dept.

SeeSp0tRun writes to remind us of Blizzard's lawsuit against MDY Industries over the Glider cheat. It seems that Blizzard is pushing it even further. They're trying out the legal theory that a software creator retains complete control over how a program is used, meaning that anyone who uses it in a different way could be found guilty of copyright infringement, at $750 a pop. The EFF and Public Knowledge are among the organizations trying to assure that the court doesn't set a really bad precedent here.

4 of 531 comments (clear)

  1. How it's used? by CannonballHead · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They want to keep the rights to how it is used? Hm. Does that mean they are responsible for how it is used, then? If someone uses it "wrong" and "hurts" me, does that mean I can sue the developer, since he is the one in charge of how it is used?

    1. Re:How it's used? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If we're to pay them for using it in ways we're not supposed to, then can we get payed every time their software does not work exactly the way its supposed to and crashes or messes up my system?

  2. Good luck with that by Mr.+Underbridge · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm no lawyer, but even I recognize that what they're talking about is simply a matter of contract law. You have your EULA, enforce it. It's not a matter of copyright law, no matter how convenient that would make things for them thanks to the insane penalties that accompany it.

  3. Re:Obvious answer! by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I agree with the GGP, too. I'm so sick of the games software vendors are playing with licenses, EULAs, phoning home and other DRM, I find it much easier and more efficient to just steal the stuff.

    There are a surprising number of cases in my computing life where I've bought a legit license to software, but used the cracked version just because it doesn't fuck with me. In most cases, I don't have anything against the developer, so I don't want to steal from them, but I do not want to be fucked with and pay hundreds of dollars for the privilege.

    Since I'm well aware that I'm not exceptional, I have to assume other people do the same thing.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.