Am 15.01.2013 17:38, schrieb Warp:

> A closer example would be the images on a website: Just becuse you can
> download the image files from a website doesn't somehow automatically
> give you the right to use them as you want. This even if there's no
> copyright statement or usage restrictions mentioned anywhere in the
> website.
>
> There's zero difference between an image file and a computer program.
> Just because you *can* download a program from a website doesn't mean
> that you somehow automatically get the right to use it however you want.

Sorry, but that's utter rubbish.

There isn't much you can do with an image that doesn't also involve 
redistribution (be it in the original or a modified form).

There is (typically) a /lot/ you can do with a piece of software that 
does /not/ involve redistribution.

Software is more akin to a scientific paper: If you can get hold of a 
copy, you /can/ (by default) freely make use of the knowledge presented 
therein (except of course if patents are involved).


> Copyright is automatic and does not need to be stated explicitly, and
> the *default* is that if there's no usage license, you can *not* use it.

No. The default is that there is no implied license to /copy/; there 
/is/ a default implied license to redistribute the very copy you 
received from an authorized distributor (in some countries you can't 
even explicitly deny that right), and yes - there /is/ a default implied 
license to /use/ the piece of work however you deem fit (provided that 
the use doesn't involve copying it).

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