>> Actually the removing of the PD notice and putting
>> their own copyright notice in should be OK (right?), so long
>> as they don't try to sue anyone for using the original PD
>> code.
dn> No, you cannot (legally) take and claim a copyright you don't have. While
dn> you can remove the copyright notice with a text editor, you cannot remove
dn> a copyright - at that point it comes down the a question of proof as to
dn> who was the original author (or what documents the transfer of title).
dn> Just as you cannot 'steal' intellectual property, you cannot make a work
dn> in the public domain code 'copyrighted'. The PD status of a work merely
dn> means that it can be used or distributed as an individual sees fit.
Well if I use some public domain code, and I modify it a bit (ie MY work),
then I want the result to be copyrighted by me, since it's my work. I
thought I could do this with PD code. Now what happens when the only
change I make is a 1-byte change? Are you saying there is a difference
between a 0-byte and 1-byte change? Or are you saying all my work becomes
PD too? BFN.
Paul
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