Quote:
Originally Posted by VP$IP
So that still leaves inspection of running copies of PT and/or HM as sources of info on the method(s) used.
this or digging deeper into stars client. had a read meanwhile on the legal aspects (
european law only): [
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cg...model=guichett], on the legal protection of computer programs
---------------------------------------------
Directive 91/250 - Article 4 Restricted Acts
3. The person having a right to use a copy of a computer program shall be entitled, without the authorization of the rightholder, 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 if he does so while performing any of the acts of loading, displaying, running, transmitting or storing the program which he is entitled to do.
Directive 91/250 - Article 6 Decompilation
1. The authorization of the rightholder shall not be required where reproduction of the code and translation of its form within the meaning of Article 4 (a) and (b) are indispensable to obtain the information necessary to achieve the interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, provided that the following conditions are met:
(a) these acts are performed by the licensee or by another person having a right to use a copy of a program, or on their behalf by a person authorized to to so;
(b) the information necessary to achieve interoperability has not previously been readily available to the persons referred to in subparagraph (a); and (c) these acts are confined to the parts of the original program which are necessary to achieve interoperability.
---------------------------------------------
i am not a lawyer so be warned. but sounds to me like every legal owner of PT, HEM is free to studdy at his hearts content what it is doing (think freedom of science). regarding stars client: imo, there is effectively a hidden interface (if they name it like this or not irrelevant imo, as PT, HEM are obviously interoperating with the client). so article 6 paragraph 1 section b) should apply here.
Last edited by mme; 05-25-2012 at 04:42 AM.
Reason: typo