MJ Ray markj@cloaked.freeserve.co.uk schrieb/wrote:
Indeed, but the problem is that you are only given a licence by the copyright holder to use the content. What conditions that they put on it is up to them and your only choice is to not purchase ...
Absolutly not. This is what the copyright owners[2] want to make you think but it just is not the true legal situation:
The copyright does only cover some types of usage: making verbatim copies and public performance. To this general rule, there are exceptions often referred to as "fair use"[1].
For private performance or whatever falls under fair use, you do not need a licence nor can the copyright owner restrict that.
Only if you want to use the copyrighted work in a way that is not already allowed due to exemptions of copyright do you need a licence.
Claus
[1] What constitutes fair use is usually different in each legislation. [2] I'll just use the term "copyright". But remember that in Continental Europe the whole copyright system differs a bit.