... but I can't.

After reading Paul's post, I consulted with #1 son (who is house counsel for Mindscape, a division of The Learning Company, which is now owned by Mattel -- this is really getting confusing -- and who is married to house counsel for IMSI, another computer software company).

He was AMAZED at the license/copyright language which appears on the Wilson Software (BTW, I own Turbo Texas Hold 'Em, purchased from Wilson Software just before the convention, but not delivered until after, which of course is the reason Tony won the poker tournament and not I <g> -- and the point here is that I can confirm that Paul's quotation of the license terms is exactly correct).

Mindscape and IMSI both have license agreements which run to a full page or more in their User Guides. Their license agreements essentially prohibit ANY transfer of the software (even loaning it) except where the original purchaser retains no part of or copy of any part of the program. Other major software companies probably have similar provisions, though I haven't checked.

To get back to the point, the Wilson license agreement is woefully inadequate. If it was written by a lawyer, he/she should be practicing some other kind of law than intellectual property. Given the license agreement as written, what Paul proposed doing would not even be a violation of that agreement, much less a theft, Larry's impassioned (and otherwise well-reasoned) argument notwithstanding.

If Steve were to receive and make a copy of the program, THAT would constitute a copyright violation ... with all of the attendant ramifications that entails.

A personal observation: I suspect that Wilson Software is a small company, more likely to be hurt by pirating than a bigger company. I like the Hold 'Em program and would recommend it to anyone else who wants to buy a copy.

----- jim o\-S