The copyright has not been "completely abandoned." Lines of code meant to dazzle your computer screen are defined differently from other intellectual works. Copyrights, in the United States anyway, lapse one-hundred years after the author's death, or after the death of his last surviving immediate family member, whichever comes first.
I normally don't give references on these boards anymore, but occasionally a post like yours comes a long that needs to be addressed. I would strongly urge you to pick up a copy of "Patent it Yourself." That should explain the difference.
Odds are you're just some kid who plays a lot of games, or some adult who's spent too much of their life coding, and hasn't done a lot of "self initiative" type of stuff. Go out and see the world, and don't post unless you know what you're talking about.
reply
share
farrokh_k
19 years ago
That has to be the single most infuriating thing I have ever read on these boards.
The guy you replied to with this drivel put it better than I ever could, so I'll just say that either you're simply a troll, or a very sad, sad person.
Either way you have my sympathies.
reply
share
SRFireside
19 years ago
I'm very much an adult (who is not a programmer) who wants a good quality copy of a movie I loved when the studios didn't offer one, thank you very much. I am VERY much aware of copyright law, but I see no logic in calling it infringement when the copyright holder won't even offer the work in question for sale. How can you infringe (affect sales) when it's not for sale? I have very little sympathy for that sort of behavior.
Besides if it weren't for the sales of bootleg DVD's MGM probably wouldn't have released the Starchaser DVD that's now being made available. In widescreen no doubt. At least MGM did the smart thing instead of trying to sue people for providing product they themselves didn't at the time. Am I going to buy the official release? You bet!
reply
share
Blueghost
9 years ago
by SRFireside ยป Wed Apr 6 2005 08:17:16
IMDb member since June 2003
Post Edited: Wed Apr 6 2005 08:19:55
I'm very much an adult (who is not a programmer) who wants a good quality copy of a movie I loved when the studios didn't offer one, thank you very much. I am VERY much aware of copyright law, but I see no logic in calling it infringement when the copyright holder won't even offer the work in question for sale. How can you infringe (affect sales) when it's not for sale? I have very little sympathy for that sort of behavior.
Besides if it weren't for the sales of bootleg DVD's MGM probably wouldn't have released the Starchaser DVD that's now being made available. In widescreen no doubt. At least MGM did the smart thing instead of trying to sue people for providing product they themselves didn't at the time. Am I going to buy the official release? You bet!
Only MGM knows why they released it. But odds are their marketing department did some good research and found that sci-fi fans like this movie, and tend to be film aficionados; ergo the widescreen release.
I'm glad they did it.
But they did NOT abandon the copyright. No company in their right mind does. Some are larger than others, and can police their property better. But they do not let it go to public domain.
reply
share