18 Nov
1999
18 Nov
'99
8:41 a.m.
Upon the date 03:47 PM 11/18/99 -0500, Jason McBrien said something like:
I am starting a documentation project to collect
hardware manuals and
technical documents for all different types of old computers. Before I put
it up for all to enjoy, I need to write a legal disclaimer saying, to the
effect, that I make no claim to own anything and to the best of my knowledge
it's all public domain info. Anyone know how I should word it, or anyone
have an example on their web site? Thanks in advance.
Public Domain? Not if there's any indication of a copyright on them.
That disclaimer you plan to write will not cut it if there is a copyright
on the documents. Very few documents could be considered PD unless they did
not have a specific copyright notice OR if there is a general specific
release given by the copyright holder to PD OR the copyright holder gives
*you* permission to hang it out on your website for the public to see with
a notice stating the copyright holder still retains copyright. Recently
revised copyright laws make *everything* copyrighted nowadays.
US Government printed documentation is usually not copyrighted and
therefore PD, for example, that is if it's not classified or secret.
Military technical manuals on mil radios and mil electronic test equipment
are in this category. After all, the US *public* paid for writing,
preparing and printing them. I've got about nine shelf-feet of such manuals
in my collection.
If you find Government printed computer manuals you should be out of
trouble. But what computers that we'd have in our collections would have
gov't. issue manuals?
Regards, Chris
-- --
Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian
Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net
Member of Antique Wireless Association
URL: http://www.antiquewireless.org/