Does "modification" include translation to another HLL?

[John Cowan]

Rod Dixon wrote:

> Hmm...I doubt that the puzzle can be solved by switching from read to
> examine.  If you copy the work and the work is copyright-protected,
> telling a judge that instead of "reading" the work, you "examined" it is
> not going to work. You could try to dodge the bullet by looking for cover
> under reverse engineering, but doing so in this case is why copyright
> holders have tried to deconstruct the deconstructor. Reverse engineering
> is not a license to copy and the facts we are discussing do not show why
> it is relevant.

I am not sure we are discussing the same facts.  If I interact with
your (tty-mode) program thus:

? 3+4
7
? 42+42
84
? 5*5
25

I can deduce it is a calculator and write my own calculator program.
This is what I meant by "examining the program" (as distinct from
"reading the source").  Otherwise Netscape would infringe Mosaic,
but it does not.

-- 
Not to perambulate             || John Cowan <jcowan at reutershealth.com>
    the corridors               || http://www.reutershealth.com
during the hours of repose     || http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
    in the boots of ascension.  \\ Sign in Austrian ski-resort hotel

--
license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3