tlug: Game CD copyright question

["Stephen J. Turnbull" <turnbull@example.com>]

>>>>> "Howard" == Howard Abbey <habbey@example.com> writes:

    Howard> I have heard that in the U.S., you're allowed by law to
    Howard> make one copy of software you own for 'backup purposes'.
    Howard> Does anybody know if this is true or false?  Does anybody

This is true, I believe, although it's hard to tell.  Certainly most
license agreements permit it, I think in part because it's required by 
law (this killed off the "broken floppy" method of copy protection).

    Howard> know what Japan's take on it is?

Probably the same.  Most Japanese commercial law looks like US law (or
the international equivalent, which also usually looks like US law or
vice versa).

    Howard> I also remember hearing that in Japan, you're allowed to
    Howard> copy stuff (like nearly complete textbooks) for
    Howard> educational purposes?  Anybody hear anything about this?

Legal, absolutely not.  Allowed, certainly.  Up to a couple of years
ago, anyway.  Until 1995 my Institute maintained a lending library of
commercial software, like MS Office and Ichitaro and Mathematica, open
to faculty, staff, and grad students.  The University now has site
licenses.

In 1994 an acquaintance lost a large contract to teach University
staff English because he insisted on either purchasing (and being
reimbursed for) sufficient copies of the textbook or getting a sealed
copy of an official letter from the author (a University professor) or
publisher granting permission to the University to use Xerox copies of
the text.  He consulted a lawyer, and didn't want to risk his visa
over copyright infringement.

Ie, the basic story is that in Japan there is no Kinko's to do it
legally, conveniently, and fairly cheaply, and very little
enforcement.  So Xerox's leasing department makes a killing.

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