Raul Miller wrote: > On Sun, May 09, 2004 at 05:30:28AM -0400, Nathanael Nerode wrote: >> Well, making a copy in RAM is making a copy, legally; this is apparently >> the >> caselaw in the US. I'm sorry that I don't have the reference. > > Loading a register might also also constitute copying, but in the > U.S. that's already covered under fair use. But then there's L1 cache, > and the L2 cache which wouldn't be covered under fair use. Well, they probably would be covered by the "essential step in the utilization of the computer program" clause.
> And, in at least some cases, making a copy in RAM is equivalent to making > a copy on disk (because of swap). And then there's any cache on the "essential step in the utilization of the computer program" > It's conceivable that playing a sound recording could constitute making > a copy in air. Or that playing a video recording could constitute making > a copy in light. Nah, they don't. The question in the US is whether something is "fixed in a medium of expression". That's settled. <snip> > I maintain that any jurisdiction which allows for the execution of a > propietary program (one which makes no provision for the user to make > further copies) must have some sort of concept of reasonableness which > grants the same sort of freedoms implicitly. We wish. :-) Well, it has some concept of reasonableness, but it's very, very, narrow. -- There are none so blind as those who will not see.
