[Coco] Copyright

[Andrew]

Copyright infringement used to be a civil matter, too; essentially the 
author or owner of the copyright had to enforce it in court, just like 
patent holders still must.

Then things like Disney, Sonny Bono, RIAA, MPAA, Microsoft, BSA, Jack 
Valentti, and a whole host of other thugs (re: lobbyists for the above) 
got in the way, mucked everything up, and now character of Mickey Mouse 
will never fall into the public domain until long after your 
grandchildren are dead, if then.

Even with all these laws, all this punishment, it has yet to put the 
barest dent or hint of "fear" into anyone or any group breaking 
copyright the world over. Completely pointless, and a waste of money and 
time.

Wonderful world, ain't it?

BTW - for Steve B:

What happens to *your* software after you die? Will Zaxxon for the CoCo 
ever become legally available for emulation, etc? Will your 
"grandchildren" be able to legally play the game you created? I'm just a 
bit curious about this; you are one of the few holdouts in all this CoCo 
related software copyright issue (you and Bill Vergona, likely) - you 
seem to have a better reason than he (though who knows, maybe he has 
just as good reasons); but I sincerely wonder if this issue as it 
pertains to your software will ever be put to rest...?

--- Andrew L. Ayers, Glendale, Arizona

> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 08:36:54 -0500
> From: Aaron Banerjee <spam_proof at verizon.net>
> Subject: Re: [Coco] Copyright
> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Message-ID: <864CEF64-027B-4D4F-BE77-4ED2F418F50D at verizon.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed; delsp=yes
> 
> I never realized copyright infringement could be a federal crime.   
> That's a tougher punishment than patent infringement.  If I recall  
> properly (which I might not), a patent allows the patent holder to  
> prevent others from making, using, or selling that which was  
> patented.  It's up to the patent holder to:  (a) realize infringers  
> exist, (b) find them, and (c) sue them.  It would be a civil matter.
>             - Aaron