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I don't think anyone, let alone the "law", are going to care about a some old DOS shareware open-sourced voluntarily by its original creator, just because he di
by pdntspa 4y ago
I don't think anyone, let alone the "law", are going to care about a some old DOS shareware open-sourced voluntarily by its original creator, just because he didn't include a license.
Maybe if someone steals the code and goes on to make bank writing the next hot new DOS app...
Where do you live that your police are so incredibly well-funded and organized enough to pursue these kinds of trivialities? Because mine are still trying to cover their ass after failing to respond to an armed break-in where a woman was murdered in her home by an angry ex who was seen stalking her outside for hours before it happened.
When I was a kid I once uploaded some paid software on an online bulletin board... and then freaked out thinking an unmarked van would show up and haul me away. News flash - that never happened.
- teddyh 4y agoDo you only care about the law if there is a risk of you getting caught?
- pdntspa 4y agoYes, laws are only as good as their enforcement. And there are many unjust laws out there (like copyright). Since their enforcement is so weak, it is as if they don't exist. Further, assuming you live in a common law society and intellectual property violations aren't strict liability, there are a lot of factors around precedent and whether anyone parties were actually hurt. In the United States I doubt merely copying the source code would even be considered criminal, unless you happen to land charges in the most zealous district with the most zealous prosecutor on the planet.
- teddyh 4y ago> Since their enforcement is so weak, it is as if they don't exist. Aaron Swartz Dmitry Sklyarov Peter Sunde Just from the top of my head.