CompuServe Messages

The unfortunate part is that CIS's policy is widely misinterpreted. It's original intent was to protect the author's rights — not to try to usurp them. There is also confusion in many people's minds regarding the difference between public domain software and freely distributable software. Public domain is just that — all rights to the program have been relinquished. Freely distributable software is something quite different. It's software that the author wants to be distributed and the author controls just what distribution channels he wants to use — whether it's a particular commercial service, bbs, paper tape duplication only — whatever. The author gives up no rights to his work. Unless there is an expressed statement from the author distribution of such material cannot legally be done through other channels. PD and freely distributable copyrighted programs are not one and the same. Sorry to ramble on but your message gave me an opening!