| IDL, GDL, copyright, EULAs and such [message #44694] |
Wed, 06 July 2005 10:12  |
Y.T.
Messages: 25
Registered: December 2004
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Junior Member |
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So I've been playing around with GDL, simply because I like IDL. I like
GDL's focus on the essentials - I wouldn't mind widget-tools, but I
consider them a luxury, really. And if GDL never acquires the
incomprehensible object junk of IDL, it'll be too soon.
However much of the power of IDL lies in the library, of course - and
thus GDL's weakness lies in the lack of that library.
For now, I figure, there shouldn't be a problem with my re-using the
routines from my valid, legal IDL installation -- it is just a massive
pain when such an essential tool like "linfit" is unavailable. So I
copy it from my /usr/local/rsi to a local GDL-directory. No big deal.
Or is it a big deal? The routine is copyrighted by RSI, no? Am I
allowed to use it on a program like GDL that is quite blatantly
intended to be a free replacement for IDL? Can I use my idl/lib
routines as long as I have a functioning IDL installation? Do I have to
stop using them as soon as my license expires? But the license is only
for IDL, no? That's why the hasp-thingee only protects use of the
binary, right? So the library should be considered "acquired" and still
be allowed to be used with GDL even in the absence of a working IDL.
No? Yes?
The longer I think about it the less sure I am that running GDL might
not be in violation of the "reverse engineering" clause in the IDL
license agreement or some such -- except that that would only apply to
people who actually have a valid installation of IDL since only those
would ever have agreed to that license.
And the IDL license actually never spells out what the "software"
really is that is being licensed -- whether it is IDL itself or also
the contents of idl/lib/*
Since I'm already pretty confused by the whole notion of "intellectual
property" (and much more so on the 'net) I figure I'll throw this out
as an open-ended question -- can I continue to use basic, trivial
functions like "poly.pro" or "factorial.pro" with GDL after IDL has
expired? How about more complex stuff? Why or why not? What's the
status of the routines that were originally from NR?
I'm just baffled.
cordially
Y.T.
--
Remove YourClothes before you email me.
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