Windows Media Player user license extensions

[Derek Fawcus]

On Thu, Jul 04, 2002 at 12:50:36AM +0100, Philip Rowlands wrote:
> On Thu, 4 Jul 2002 lists@notatla.demon.co.uk wrote:
> 
> >If I write some software myself where do I obtain the license before
> >I can use or copy it ?
> From the copyright owner :)
> 
> >Unlicensed software is fine right up to the
> >moment the author-distributor attaches conditions to it, if ever.
> 
> Copyright exists without specific notice nor registration. Without a
> limited assignment of these rights, by way of a license, you breach
> copyright law by using the software.

We just had a discussion of this the other week.  The copyright act
has a section specifically stating that the authorised user of software
is allowed to use the software.

Say I write some software.  Sell you a copy for 10 quid,  you get a floppy
disk containing one file,   the program in question.  I don't give you
anything else,  no licence,  documentation or anything.

You're allowed to run it by virtue of that section of the copyright
act.  That 'cause the act says you can make any copies required for
the use of the software.  This would include say copying it onto a
local hard disk (if required),  and the copy of the program image in
memory when executing.

DF