Why doesn't "SOFTWARE" fall under other media laws since in effect the PC "plays" the software?

[MadRat]

I'd find it absolutely hilarious if someone could come up with a way to cache serve copies of the OS so that people could play the OS like a media file. I suppose with VMWare tricks it could be done, where the software never actually exists on the PC, its only brought to memory upon call. If that was possible then wouldn't software companies get no more fee than what the RIAA charges for media streaming across the internet?

 

[konichiwa]

?

 

[TheBDB]

Ummmm.......yes.

 

[Bleep]

That would be great I want 2000 pro so bad I can almost taste it.

Bleep

 

[AndrewR]

Copyright law as it applies to software has never been a perfect fit and should actually be completely rewritten for the modern age (why does software require life+75 years protection??? we haven't even had computers that long). The fundamental balance between fair compensation to authors and fair usage by users has tipped well in favor of authors and doesn't show any sign of stopping until Congress steps in and does something about it.

Then again, common sense is anything but common.