Thread: Could I get sued

  1. #1
    Chad Johnson
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Posts
    154

    Question Could I get sued

    In my program I want to use the Bible modules from e-Sword. I looked at them and they're just Access Databases with a password, and there's tools on the Internet that can easily get the password.

    e-Sword is a free program, and most of the Bible modules are free too. So if I made it so my program could use these files, could I get sued by e-Sword?

    I don't see how this would be any different than what OpenOffice does if I got permission to use those texts from the copyright holders (if there are any).

  2. #2
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    MI
    Posts
    8,823
    I think it'd be easier to just ask the person who created it.

    Even if it's not illegal, it's still a pretty crappy thing to do.

  3. #3
    Chad Johnson
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Posts
    154
    I really don't think it's a crappy thing to do. I have my own indexed format, but I would like to make it easy for users and allow them to use existing modules that they might already have.

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    536
    Quote Originally Posted by ChadJohnson

    I looked at them and they're just Access Databases with a password, and there's tools on the Internet that can easily get the password.

    e-Sword is a free program, and most of the Bible modules are free too. So if I made it so my program could use these files, could I get sued by e-Sword?
    Two questions here:

    Here's the one you asked:
    1. Can I get sued?

    Answer: You can get sued by anybody for anything at any time.

    Here's the one you didn't ask:
    2. Is it illegal?

    Answer: In the U.S. there is something called DMCA. Here's a link

    If you as an individual circumvent an access control mechanism of a copyrighted work without permission of the copyright owner, you are in violation. Yes, it's true



    Regards,

    Dave
    Last edited by Dave Evans; 07-10-2005 at 08:57 AM.

  5. #5
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    MI
    Posts
    8,823
    Quote Originally Posted by ChadJohnson
    I really don't think it's a crappy thing to do. I have my own indexed format, but I would like to make it easy for users and allow them to use existing modules that they might already have.
    That's true, but you're still taking the work that one of your competitors did and passing it off as your own.

  6. #6
    Carnivore ('-'v) Hunter2's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Posts
    2,879
    And, stealing business if users are switching to your program, and still using e-Sword's modules
    Just Google It. √

    (\ /)
    ( . .)
    c(")(") This is bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your signature to help him gain world domination.

  7. #7
    Chad Johnson
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Posts
    154
    So what do you guys think about what OpenOffice has done?

  8. #8
    Carnivore ('-'v) Hunter2's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Posts
    2,879
    Dunno. Isn't it run by the same people?
    Just Google It. √

    (\ /)
    ( . .)
    c(")(") This is bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your signature to help him gain world domination.

  9. #9
    Chad Johnson
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Posts
    154
    What I mean is they reverse engineered Microsoft's .doc format.

  10. #10
    Chad Johnson
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Posts
    154
    The thing is, the guy himself does not own the text contained within those modules.

  11. #11
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Posts
    4,429
    Quote Originally Posted by ChadJohnson
    What I mean is they reverse engineered Microsoft's .doc format.
    Proof? Besides, I don't believe MS got a patent on a file format. You're talking about using actual modules from another app.

  12. #12
    Registered User major_small's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Posts
    2,787
    Quote Originally Posted by ober
    Proof? Besides, I don't believe MS got a patent on a file format. You're talking about using actual password-protected modules from another app.
    fixed

    going back to the OP for a moment: if you mean that e-Sword used open modules, then sure, but get the modules for yourself, but don't crack them open from e-Sword--that, like others have said, would be pretty crappy.

    If, however, the modules are open, and weren't created explicitly for e-Sword, then go on ahead and (with permission) use them from the source.
    Join is in our Unofficial Cprog IRC channel
    Server: irc.phoenixradio.org
    Channel: #Tech


    Team Cprog Folding@Home: Team #43476
    Download it Here
    Detailed Stats Here
    More Detailed Stats
    52 Members so far, are YOU a member?
    Current team score: 1223226 (ranked 374 of 45152)

    The CBoard team is doing better than 99.16% of the other teams
    Top 5 Members: Xterria(518175), pianorain(118517), Bennet(64957), JaWiB(55610), alphaoide(44374)

    Last Updated on: Wed, 30 Aug, 2006 @ 2:30 PM EDT

  13. #13
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    MI
    Posts
    8,823
    Quote Originally Posted by ChadJohnson
    The thing is, the guy himself does not own the text contained within those modules.
    What, you mean the Bible? Of course he doesn't. He put his time and effort into dividing it into useful modules, though.

  14. #14
    Chad Johnson
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Posts
    154
    I want you guys to know that before I even created this thread I e-mailed the e-Sword guy and asked him about this (haven't received a response yet though). I'm not really going to do this if the guy has a problem with it. I'm really am not trying to create any quarrels - I don't know the ins and outs of this type of thing, so I thought I'd just ask and learn.

    So I hope no one is angry or upset.

  15. #15
    Registered User major_small's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Posts
    2,787
    like I said earlier - go to the creator of the modules (if they're open and/or free). if eSword is using their own modules, they may want to charge you or may even give them to you for free. if eSword is using somebody else's modules, they may just give you contact information for whoever made the modules. in the end, it comes down to who created the modules and if they have any special arrangements with eSword.

    along this topic, IIRC, somebody not too long ago was creating something like this and was looking for help with a name for it... you may want to find and ask them what they did...

    edit: nevermind... that was you
    Join is in our Unofficial Cprog IRC channel
    Server: irc.phoenixradio.org
    Channel: #Tech


    Team Cprog Folding@Home: Team #43476
    Download it Here
    Detailed Stats Here
    More Detailed Stats
    52 Members so far, are YOU a member?
    Current team score: 1223226 (ranked 374 of 45152)

    The CBoard team is doing better than 99.16% of the other teams
    Top 5 Members: Xterria(518175), pianorain(118517), Bennet(64957), JaWiB(55610), alphaoide(44374)

    Last Updated on: Wed, 30 Aug, 2006 @ 2:30 PM EDT

Popular pages Recent additions subscribe to a feed

Similar Threads

  1. Amusing
    By Clyde in forum A Brief History of Cprogramming.com
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 09-12-2002, 01:17 AM