Re[2]: Stealing Technical Writing (Was: Using...)

Subject: Re[2]: Stealing Technical Writing (Was: Using...)
From: "Walker, Arlen P" <Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- COM>
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 12:26:28 -0500

But can you give the user your own link to a topic *within* a help
file already on the hard drive, just to save yourself from having to
recreate it? Is that a violation of copyright, since you're
essentially forcing the system to "copy" the victim's topic without
paying him for it?

Well, since the material already exists on the user's hard drive and is in
his possesion already, either the answer is "No" or there's a lot of folks
writing Operating Environments, Windows included, who are in trouble. Think
about it. What were all those Hard Drive menu utilities except a link to
things already on your hard drive? What are Windows program groups except a
collection of links to material already on your hard drive?

If linking to material already owned by the user is a crime, looks like Big
Bill headed for solitary.

On the Web, only a fool creates a
page and then tries to restrict anyone from linking to it.

Unless, of course, the usual path to the page holds something the user
needs to see, either because it gets you revenue or because it provides a
necessary context for the information.


Have fun,
Arlen
Chief Managing Director In Charge, Department of Redundancy Department
DNRC 224

Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- Com
----------------------------------------------
In God we trust; all others must provide data.
----------------------------------------------
Opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.
If JCI had an opinion on this, they'd hire someone else to deliver it.

TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html


Previous by Author: Re[2]: Links in email
Next by Author: Re[2]: CD Production Advice
Previous by Thread: Re: Stealing Technical Writing (Was: Using...)
Next by Thread: Re: Stealing Technical Writing (Was: Using...)


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads