Donnie Berkholz wrote:
Have you heard of the term "contributory infringement"? It means you're helping someone else break copyright law.
Wouldn't somebody need to distribute the software to be in violation of copyright law?
If I in legal and fully-licensed manner install a program on my PC, and then I modify that program but don't distribute it, have I violated copyright law? If the end-user doesn't violate copyright, then Gentoo couldn't be guilty of contributory infringement.
If I purchase a piece of artwork and then draw over it I haven't violated copyright. If I make 10 copies of the resulting modified art and distribute them then I may have. If I sell a magic marker and print on the box "you can draw all over your expensive artwork" on it I'm not contributing to copyright infringement. If I write on the box "you can draw all over your expensive artwork and sell it on ebay" then I may be contributing to copyright infringement.
At least, that is how I see it... :)
