[Larry_OHF]

If you're really desperate to have it, back the thing up yourself (which is legal)

For a long time on this website I have seen people saying that back-ups are legal, but I have never seen anyone prove it with a written law that it applies to "ALL" media without question.

I have looked around the house at my collection of movies, music, and other software, and have found no proof that I am legally allowed to make a copy for backup of "most" of my collection. In fact, in the verbage of one software program, I found this:

...This license shall not be considered a "sale" of the original software. In consideration of payment of the Licensee fee, which is a portion of the price you paid, (name of company) grants to the Licensee a nonexclusive right to use and display this copy, and only this copy...

I think people "feel" that it is their right to make a backup, but in truth it is only allowed at the present time if the company selling the product actually prints the permission.

For example, if I go to Walmart.com and download a song for .88¢, I get a license allotment of ten copies or that the license can transfer to up to 2 more PCs. In other words, if it is written, it is legal. In the first example it is not legal to make even one personal copy for backup.

[ 11-12-2005, 09:08 AM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]