Re: A letter for Mr. Darl McBride - personal use

[John Hasler <john@dhh.gt.org>]

csj writes:
> Does this mean that if A gives B an "illegal" copy of Windows, only A
> gets sued?

If B received it innocently, yes.  In practice, though, Microsoft could
probably argue successfully that B knew the copy was unauthorized and so
was a contributory infringer (essentially, that B conspired with A to make
the copy).

A more realistic example: publisher A puts out a book and sells millions of
copies.  Publisher B puts out a very similar book and also sells millions
of copies.  Publisher A sues publisher B for copyright infringement and
wins.  Publisher B now must destroy all copies of the infringing work in
his possession, but his customers are completely in the clear.
-- 
John Hasler
john@dhh.gt.org (John Hasler)
Dancing Horse Hill
Elmwood, WI