On Friday, September 8, 2017, Ulrich Mueller <u...@gentoo.org> wrote: >>>>>> On Thu, 7 Sep 2017, R0b0t1 wrote: > >> Downloading does not imply committing a felony. As far as anyone can >> tell it is impossible to prosecute someone for downloading something >> they already own (regardless of what any EULA has claimed). > > Sure, if the user already has rightfully obtained the software then > nothing can stop him from downloading it again. > >> Further, copyrights lapse if not enforced. Depending on how long >> that download has been up the original rightsholder has forfeited >> their claim to their work. > > Copyright expires no sooner than 50 years after the author's death: > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berne_Convention > In most countries that term is even longer, e.g. 70 years in the > European Union. > > Also contrary to popular belief, there is no such concept as > "abandonware". In some legislations, there are some provisions to > allow archiving of orphan works, but only for public institutions > (e.g. in the EU, museums and digital archives). >
Then I'm quite confused as to why people seem to be extremely attentive to copyright infringement (besides an immediate payout). In the US they cite the reasoning I gave, from memory. Maybe that was for trademarks? >> Sir, please see my above comment about building ballistic missiles. >> It may be important for the Gentoo Foundation to add a disclaimer >> similar to the one I mentioned. I would hate for the Foundation or >> any of its administrators or contributors to be found guilty of >> aiding and abetting terrorists. > > Yeah. Stop trolling, please. > I am being completely serious. You can find such a clause in the iTunes license. If it seems ridiculous please reconsider the subject in question. R0b0t1.
