Dear Joe<br><br>IANAL, and always consult a lawyer. But here is how I see things<br> <div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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<p><span>a)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span>whether or not there is a claim of copyright on the
blog is irrelevant, under U.S. law it is copyrighted by the author of the blog</p></div></div></blockquote><div>Yes, unless of course he copied some contents from another source. <br><br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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<p><span>b)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span>by default non-copyright holders are forbidden from
copying, distributing, or modifying the work</p></div></div></blockquote><div>Yes. You need to get permission.<br> <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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<p><span>c)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span>without express claim of copyright as well as express
license terms (preferably favorable to the corporation), the code on the web
page may not in any way be copied into or used in any corporate work</p>
<p></p></div></div></blockquote><div>That is the best possible approach. <br></div><div> </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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<p>To be truthful, I am sometimes surprised at the number of
freelance developers who aren’t more aware of copyright law (regardless
of their national origin) and licensing, yet post code. </p>
<p></p></div></div></blockquote><div>If it is on someone's blog, then email the person. Usually the answer is a yes.<br><br>If there isn't, then ask your lawyer to have a look at it. Especially with code snippets, it is possible that the author cannot assert any copyrights because there is no original content. For example I think most people will agree the author cannot claim copyright for [code] x= {10.20.30}; y =sin(x); y[0]=sin(10); [/code] where sin(x) is a library function.<br>
<br>When you get snippet from forum/blog site, while the author might not make it explicit, most would make the assumption that others will copy the code and welcome it.<br><br>Luckily for us, most reputable website, especially programming website, do carry copyright licensing information.<br>
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<p>To my question, do others take such an approach? Am I
being overly sensitive and can relax the approach? </p></div></div></blockquote><div>I don't think so. You are just simply very cautious. <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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<p>Is there some other
key piece of information I may be ignorant of that would cause me to modify it? <br></p></div></div></blockquote><div> Again, IANAL. But I will consider the context in which the author provide the information. If he is discussing a solution, or is providing one, I think a case can be made that he has reasonable expectation that others will copy it.<br>
<br>Also, sometimes, after you had copied the code, you modify it so heavily that there is no resemblance to the original. That might mean your code cease to be a derivative work of the original. Exactly how the revision history of the this code impact on the other party's copyright is a topic for your lawyer. ;-)<br>
<br>Best Regards,<br></div></div>Cinly<br><br>*****<br>I promise to take all due care and respect for you email, BUT will not agree to abide to any T&C you care to attach to the email. This applies especially if this is a reply to your email containing one. <br>