Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 12:45:11 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <199808101645.MAA09421@delorie.com> From: DJ Delorie To: ralphgpr AT shadow DOT net CC: djgpp AT delorie DOT com In-reply-to: <3.0.1.16.19980804094544.1fa7f588@shadow.net> (message from Ralph Proctor on Tue, 04 Aug 1998 09:45:44) Subject: Re: Disassembly Precedence: bulk > Would you mind stating the law as IN REALITY it applies and how (if > it is all right) an amateur can disassemble at home and still be > doing the RIGHT THING. When an entity produces a piece of software, they require that you agree to their terms of use before they allow you to use it. In the case of GPL software, you are required to distribute sources with binaries. If you cannot agree to this, you are not allowed to use the software. That's the law. For most commercial software, they require that you agree to not reverse engineer or disassemble the software before they'll allow you to use the software. If you do so anyway, you are breaking the law by violating the contract under which you obtained the rights to use the software. Morals have nothing to do with it. Read the license agreement that comes with the software. If it says you cannot disassemble, you cannot legally disassemble the software - at all.