From jjdj@free.fr Sat, 13 May 2000 12:28:36 +0200
Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 12:28:36 +0200
From: Jean-Jacques de Jong jjdj@free.fr
Subject: [Patents] Reverse negineered info

teb@gmx.li a crit :
> 
> > > So the only thing I could infringe is a copyright. But if I did a
> > > reverse-engineering, I assume I would be the author of the description,
> > > not Nvidia. So is also copyright 100% OK?
> >
> > That's OK too, because technical means (except for program code) are not
> > copyrighted. The text you intend to publish will be your copyright.
> >
> > JJJ
> I cannot completely agree with you Jean-Jacques.
> It is right, that one can get a copyright on own one's analysis. However under
> the law of European Community (put in force in the member states in the first
> half of the last decade) the fact of reverse engineering a program can infringe
> the copyright. Generally reverse engineering is forbidden. An exception
> applies, if it is done to allow interoperability.
> 

Interoperability is exactly the case here - driving a video card.

JJJ




