Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

what classifies abandonment?

If a company ceases to provide support for its product shouldn't it amount to the same thing?

would microsoft really pursue copyright infringement on an OS that can not be supplied or bought anymore?

Steve, those are questions that I am afraid will end being decided by a court of law.

To me, when the copyright holder ceases to provide support and updates to a product then they are involved in abandonning the copyright and the product. The big problem comes down to the length of time the copyright laws gives the original copyright holder of materials for protection from infringement. Another problem area is in that the cost of renewing a copyright is very low, compared to the possible monetary benefits that is gained by extending it. Then there is the problem of MS and other copyright holders using existing code in the creation of new products, it is my understanding that even though the code may be extraneous data in the operation of the new product it is also covered under the new copyright.

Would MicroSoft start litigation over someone else providing user support for older, abandoned Operating Systems? I can only speculate that yes, they will. Take a look at thier past behavior in the case of Monopoly violations in the UK and UE. Thier attitude is one of "it is cheaper to pay a fine, after we are found guilty, than it is to back down and admit that we have engaged in unfair marketing and trade strategies."

Kevin

i hear ya, but surely a test case (i don't want to be the subject ) would show that there is a distinct difference between a book that is published and requires no support, to an antiquated copy of Win 3.1 that you cant buy and cant update.

just rethoric anyway, if you know what i mean

ya answered ya own question steve......MICROSOFT...........lol Bill Gates founded it on theft n dishonesty....msdos

Personally, that is one of the problems that the US courts have created. They view all "intellectual" materials as being copyrighted materials, while a product or invention is covered under the patent laws (which give much shorter periods of protection). As to the case of renewability of copyright, we have a number of cases where the families of the original copyright holder has renewed copyright so as to insure future royalty payments. (This has happened with a number of the "classics" of American literature.) We have also seen a number of companies who have "bought" the copyrights to a work from the original copyright holder's family, and then renewed it for the same purpose.

To me, computer programming should fall under patent laws, and not under copyright laws. The reason for my stand is that we have seen computers, peripherals, and programming all becoming outdated at an ever increasing rate. As an example, Windows Me was replaced in a very short period of time by XP, and XP is in the process of becoming obsolescent due to Vista, and Vista is already being eclipsed by the anticipation of Longhorn. Now, if we think about Vista as an "intellectual" property, then it should never be "obsolescent" within just one or two years of introduction. (I know it debued in January, but the rumor mill has it that Longhorn might be "launched" in a year or less.)

Unfortunately, most courts do not "find" gray areas within the law, but this is one mess they helped to create by defining computer programming as they have.

Kevin

Latest patchs out from MS contain a hotfix for the microcode in Intel processors.

If your system doesn't update automatically, then I suggest either initating a "Windows Update" or follow the link blow if you only want this update.



http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936357

Kevin, longhorn is the codename for the new server product that M$ is releasing, to replace Serer 2003. It will most likely be called Server 2007.

In my previous post I stated that longhorn = vista & longhorn server = Server 2007.

Hope im not sending t hese problems to everyone elses comp, but need help with a spyware etc remover! Apparently I have 63 somethings ,(malware,viruses, spyware etc) hope someone here can suggest a good antispyware ,cleaner ,whatever (free atm cos SWMBO IS overseas atm and me aint got no dough!)

Niloc, follow the links in This Thread ....

Download, install, update and run BOTH programs....

Need help... PM me

Kim Komando has radio show here in the US and has a website. She has an area for "share ware" and low cost programs. Check her site, she might have something that can help.

Over here we are still refering to it as Longhorn, and not as server 2007. Just a slight difference in our "dialects".

Kevin

I still can't believe they're calling it longhorn......

And Niloc, yep, what Rupe says...

Keven, even still, longhorn/server 2007 won't replace the vista desktop versions. On new servers for companies.

Either way I am sticking with XP.

That the best thing i've heard all night!

Rupe / ALL , i have SP2 can any one link me to downloadable cumulative updates............i'd prefer not to use the update program............ Oh, and feel free to drop a post when SP3 becomes available.

Steve (and others)... try here if you want to download updates selectively from a non Microsoft site....

http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/updates/


Caveat :

I haven't used this site and can't certify any of the links provided. I would suggest trying a "small" update first, and verifying the download is virus free before proceeding further...

It would appear that each link links to the appropriate (and genuine) Microsoft hotfix/knowledge base item.