[CS-FSLUG] Christian ethics regarding reverse engineering of non-free software

[Christopher Rose]

Michael,

I have never heard of anything like unto what you are asking. This does not mean that such does not exist, just that I am aware of it. Truthfully, I do not think it would be wise to reverse engineer something in a screen by screen fashion so that it looks and act exactly like the proprietary item. Rather, I would argue that you should just try to create something that acts in a similiar manner but give it a somewhat different design so that you can not be accused of theft. That is what I feel that reverse-engineering software is when you do not have proper permission to do so. I am still waiting for word from Delphi for an application (a game) that I would like to reverse engineer for Linux. However, I feel I need to ask for permission due to the fact that it would be almost pointless to not make it as similiar as possible to the original. If I am not granted permission, then I will simply scrub the project. For me it is that simply. For as it is written in Exodus 20:15 "Thou shalt not steal."

Pax,
Christopher L. Rose




----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Bradley, Jr." <michaelsbradleyjr at mac.com>
To: "A Christian virtual Free Software and Linux Users Group." <Christiansource at ofb.biz>
Subject: [CS-FSLUG] Christian ethics regarding reverse engineering of	non-free software
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 14:50:02 -0400

> 
>                                                              JMJ + OBT
> 
> Could someone point me to a book or article which discusses the  
> ethics of reverse engineering non-free software? I hope to find 
> some  guidance rooted in the framework of Christian ethics, but I 
> don't  know what's out there -- Google is helpful, of course, but 
> this  listserv seems like an appropriate place to conduct my 
> research.
> 
> In particular, I am wondering about the ethics of reverse 
> engineering  or cloning a proprietary webapp in a 
> "screen-by-screen" fashion.
> 
> Thanks for your input and advice!
> 
> In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
> 
> Michael Bradley, Jr.
> 
> --
> [Jesus said] Tell aching mankind to snuggle close
> to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace.
> + Diary of Saint Faustina #1074 +
> 
> My home on the Net ::
>     http://homepage.mac.com/michaelsbradleyjr/
> 
> IC XC NIKA
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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