Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 23:38:31 -0500 From: Laurence Berland <stuyman@confusion.net> To: Andrew Kenneth Milton <akm@mail.theinternet.com.au>, hackers@freebsd.org Subject: Re: My views on Eclipse/BSD Message-ID: <38A4E3C6.4A3F828E@confusion.net> References: <200002120419.OAA91247@mail.theinternet.com.au>
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Well the idea is that someone under 18 in the US can't legally be party
to a contract, so the contract becomes null and void even if I agree to
it. There's lots of legal precedent on this. It may not be this way in
other countries (I take it Australia is different). So if we get stuck
with evil shrink wrap licenses, I could charge ppl five dollars to
unwrap and unseal software for them or something. This certainly isn't
something I would do, but I'm talking theory. There was hooplah when
Corel wouldn't let ppl under 18 download their Linux, but it was to
protect them. However, since I could just lie, I could download it
anyway, and they could do nothing. I'd have breeched the contract, but
since I can't be a party to it anyway, there's nothing they can do. I'm
not a lawyer, heck I'm still in my last term of high school, so this is
all of course just my take on it, but it seems fairly consistent in the
cases I've seen. Since the Eclipse people didnt put anything about age
in there (at least I didn't notice it), it would appear I am now the
proud owner of unencumbered code and they have no possible recourse. I
don't think this should be abused or anything; I'd probably have trouble
when I turn 18, and it just doesn't seem right to me. Perhaps some
other minor is braver than I.
Regards,
Laurence
Andrew Kenneth Milton wrote:
>
> +----[ Laurence Berland ]---------------------------------------------
> | Most licenses aren't all that enforceable. I was speaking with a lawyer
> | friend who theorized that if the person accepting the license was under
> | 18 (in the US at least) then they could do whatever they want with it.
>
> If you are unable to enter into that contract, then you would not legally
> be able to download the code.
>
> --
> Totally Holistic Enterprises Internet| P:+61 7 3870 0066 | Andrew Milton
> The Internet (Aust) Pty Ltd | F:+61 7 3870 4477 |
> ACN: 082 081 472 | M:+61 416 022 411 | Carpe Daemon
> PO Box 837 Indooroopilly QLD 4068 |akm@theinternet.com.au|
--
Laurence Berland, Stuyvesant HS Debate
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Windows 98: n.
useless extension to a minor patch release for
32-bit extensions and a graphical shell for a
16-bit patch to an 8-bit operating system
originally coded for a 4-bit microprocessor,
written by a 2-bit company that can't stand for
1 bit of competition.
http://stuy.debate.net
icq #7434346 aol imer E1101
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