Re: Python secure?

From: Roger Binns (rogerb_at_rogerbinns.com)
Date: 08/16/04 

Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 22:24:34 -0700

Grant Edwards wrote:
> I don't see how decompiling is a copyright violation. If I buy
> a copy of a book, I'm pretty sure I can translate it into
> another language if I want to form my own use.

They need to use what they decompile for it to be a copyright
violation. Additionally every proprietary software license
I have seen forbids decompilation and reverse engineering.

> In some places (Europe?)
> reverse-engineering is explicitly allowed by law.

Only for the purposes of interoperability, and only if
there is no other way. It is Article 6 of directive
91/250. Note that not only can you only do it for
interoperability reasons, you can only do so if the interoperability
information is not available, and you can only do it on the parts
needed for interoperability.

http://europa.eu.int/ISPO/legal/en/ipr/software/text.html#HD_NM_6

The whole directive is contained in that page. You are not allowed
to do the decompilation on anything just because you feel like it.

I have seen software license agreements that also state you must
contact the vendor legal department if you intend to exercise
the rights from article 6 above.

> What other laws?

The laws broken would depend on what you did with the decompiled
code. They would be different based on whether you just read it,
made a modified copy of the program, sold the code, sold modified
versions, revealed trade secrets etc.

Roger

Relevant Pages

  • The Most Oppressive Clause in Microsofts EULA...
    ... Limitations on Reverse Engineering, Decompilation and ... disassemble the SOFTWARE, except and only to the extent that ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: The Most Oppressive Clause in Microsofts EULA...
    ... > * Limitations on Reverse Engineering, Decompilation and ... > disassemble the SOFTWARE, except and only to the extent that ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: Source Code Rights Question
    ... LIMITATIONS ON REVERSE ENGINEERING, DECOMPILATION, AND DISASSEMBLY. ... > may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Software, except ...
    (microsoft.public.dotnet.general)
  • The Most Oppressive Clause in Microsofts EULA...
    ... reverse engineering. ... Decompilation and ... >disassemble the SOFTWARE, except and only to the extent that ... >If you want to get some end-use out of these instructions, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
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