[KLUG Members] Legal Implications of "Writing an opensource version of XYZ"

[Rusty Yonkers]

--- Michael Lueck <mlueck at lueckdatasystems.com> wrote:
> Where can I read up on the legal implications / copyright, etc...
> of once
> buying and using XYZ shrinkwrap software and then deciding to later
> open source
> develope a "better" product which does roughly the same thing... I
> mean
> obviously to the point that you no longer have to buy XYZ.

FWIW, I am not a legal expert, but as long as you are not stealing
their code or copying screen for screen their work then there should
not be a problem.  If you look at M$ Money, it came out after Quicken
but does the same thing.  I am sure that the people that created it
had seen Quicken first.  

> 
> Do we have any legal advice in town that is capable of working with
> such
> concepts, or is Kzoo too far removed from Silicone Valley?

Any patent or copyright lawyer should be able to give you official
information.




=====
Russell C. Yonkers Jr. 
CNE, MCP, A+, CCNA, Linux+, Server+, Network+ certified
-----------------------------------------
Currently using SuSE 9, Mac OS X, Windows 2000, and WinXP 
And yes I run a network at home with Linux and Windows servers
See my personal website http://www.geocities.com/therustycook
Or my consulting site at http://www.atomicsupergeek.com


		
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