Re: Printing screens, ethical Q&A

Subject: Re: Printing screens, ethical Q&A
From: "Bergen, Jane" <janeb -at- ANSWERSOFT -dot- COM>
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 15:05:10 -0500

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lisa Comeau [mailto:COMEAUL -at- CSA -dot- CA]

> I may be (and probably am) wrong, but Windows is copyrighted
> software, and it's illegal to copy the software, so why
> wouldn't it be illegal to copy images of the software?
> (snipped)
> Or am I missing some critical piece of documentation that
> says "Hey! You're allowed to use screen captures *Because*
> you're writing manuals promoting the use of our software" ?

I guess my question is, why would I be documenting WINDOWS??? If it's a
Windows dialog, I refer the users to their Windows documentation. I only
document our OWN software. Most user guides I've seen do the same
(regardless of how bad the Windows docs may be...most are
self-explanatory anyway).

As for the rare, rare time when you would need to document a MS dialog,
if it's something you use in your own software (such as the Print or
Open dialogs), then Microsoft has given programmers permission to use
those dialogs so technically you could assume permission to document
them.

Jane
Jane Bergen, Technical Writer
AnswerSoft, Inc.
Richardson, TX (972)997-8355




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