[bt-devel] Fwd: Re: SWORD

[Chris Little]

On Fri, 22 Sep 2000 darwin@ichristian.com wrote:
> Uploading the data for processing crosses a line where I wouldn't want to
> deal with the laws...  Because of this, I would suggest the development of
> a program to convert texts from one format (the cheapest one available) and
> convert it to another (GBF or Thml come to mind) and distribute it with
> Sword or BibleTime.  Another option is to analyze the file, and create
> modules to read the initial format...  This of course assumes that we don't
> break any licensing issues by reverse engineering the software, perhaps it
> could be done by analyzing the data.

Converters are pretty easy to write for SWORD, especially now that some
module types are writable.  Troy made the first such converter for OLB,
but it doesn't work on OLB 8.1+ since the export format was changed.  I
have a Logos to SWORD (Bible only right now) converter that essentially
works, except that features of Logos like different verse mappings are
missing from SWORD.

I doubt that publishers would have a problem with private home use of
converters, but it would allow people to make unprotected modules.  Of
course, the fault here really lies with OLB, Logos, etc. for allowing
output of unprotected plaintext.  Legally we would be in the clear because
we wouldn't be transmitting copyrighted data, reverse engineering anything
that had been protected, etc.  I don't like the idea of encouraging our
users to pay our competitors in order to use texts, but I've yet to see an
alternative.
 
> I like your idea, but in my opinion, the uploading then downloading could
> be seen as copyright infringement...

Illegal, yes, but more importantly it would just be a colossal pain and
waste of time to upload/download when the same conversion software should
be able to run on the client.

Maybe we should build Gnutella-style peer-to-peer networking into SWORD so
that whenever the library is in use, users can swap texts.  If we're going
to do something illegal, we should at least make it interesting. :)

--Chris Little