From: John_White at domain dell.com
Date: Tue 14 Aug 2001 - 09:18:38 IST
> (2) It is not an infringement of the copyright in a computer program
> for a lawful user of a copy of the computer program to observe,
> study or test the functioning of the program in order to determine
> the ideas and principles which underlie any element of the program,
> where he or she does so while performing any of the acts of loading,
> displaying, running, transmitting or storing the program which he or
> she is authorised to do.
>
> I guess this basically says reverse-engineering is okay, doesn't it?
>
> - John
No - this says that if you can determine how a program is built by carrying
out tests that comprise normal use as defined by the licence then you can't
be prosecuted. Your rights to reverse engineer are protected only insofar as
your tests must be based on operations that the licence permits you to carry
out. Even still a court may be persuaded to prosecute if the licence did not
explicitly define what your authorised operations are and you went beyond
loading, displaying, running, transmitting or storing the program.
Pity though . . .
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