From: rich@example.invalid   
      
   Stefan Ram  wrote:   
   >   . Now your program clearly has nothing to do with the original   
   >   anymore. You just used that to get started but then gradually   
   >   transformed it into your own code. So, is "B = 7" now free from   
   >   any copyright of the original author of "A = 2"? At what point   
   >   during the transition exactly did the copyright disappear?   
      
   Your last question is the key, and (under US law) is something that can   
   only ultimately be determined by a court case.  The reason why is that   
   the law around copyright decides "infringement" based on factors such   
   as:   
      
   The nature of the change;   
   The amount of change made;   
   The use of the changed code;   
   The effect of the copy upon the market value of the original;   
   etc.   
      
   And, you'll notice a disconcerting issue with all of those factors.   
   They are not absolute binary decisions (is 2 less than 4).  They are   
   subjective judgement calls.  And barring the invention of a "copyright   
   AI oracle", the true subjectiveness (meaning did, or did not infringe)   
   can only be determined by a court during a lawsuit.   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)