In a message dated 99-03-09 13:45:31 EST, Decalchem@aol.com writes:

<< Shandon is perfectly justified in taking whatever legal actions it deems
 necessary to stop people from stealing what is rightfully theirs.   If not,
 what is to stop people from photocopying and distributing Histology text
 books, manuals, and scientific papers, which are also protected under the
same
 copyright laws?
  >>


Hmmm...a very interesting thread.  At least it got the manufacturer's
attention!  But I would argue that the owners of the Shandon instrument
already have a previous legal right to the manual (although missing) because
they bought a copy of the manual when they bought the instrument.  But then
again, I'm not a lawyer.

It's really a question of business philosophy, I think, and whether it's worth
going after a customer for copyright infringement because they copied a manual
or received a copy of a manual.  This would definitely *not* be a wise
decision for any manufacturer.  Can you say, "Lost Business," boys and girls?

Bob
******************************
Robert (Bob) Chiovetti
Microimaging Technologies, Inc.
Tucson, Arizona USA
Tel./Fax (520) 546-4986
rchiovetti@aol.com
Manufacturers' Representatives
Systems Integrators
Analog & Digital Imaging Systems
Clinical & Research Microscopy
Cytology/Histology/Pathology/EM
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