Re:The FBI Sucks at Photoshop
by mkyc on Monday January 18, 2010 @01:44PM
(#1060538)
The US government is allowed to exempt itself from intellectual property restrictions, especially in the interests of "national security".
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Re:The FBI Sucks at Photoshop
by electromagnetic on Monday January 18, 2010 @01:56PM
(#1060566)
I'm well aware of that, but I believe "national security" still doesn't cover sheer unadulterated laziness and incompetence . . . yet.
They are not allowed to exempt themself. What they are allowed to do is force a license.
Meaning they will pay for the usage, at "reasonable and customary" rates, and you can't say no.
I believe this applies mainly to patents. I have not heard of it being applied to copyright, but it's certainly possible.