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Just noticed this thread. I have had similar experience with including
the Javadoc for software that we had rights to redistribute.
Just for fun, check to see if your company also purchased the rights to
sell/redistribute the documentation. Yah never know... Of course, the
OEM probably won't complain, but you could have fun sending your legal
department after the deal-makers for not thinking of this!
My experience is that nobody thought of it, so it didn't happen. Legal
told me not to worry, so I didn't. You might think that since Javadoc
comes from code we'd be safe, but then again we didn't have the right to
use the code, just the class libraries.
IMHO, if you are just reselling someone else's property, you shouldn't
redo it. It all depends on the situation:
1 If this is a product the OEM sells itself, and OEMs to others, then
you *really* shouldn't change it at all.
2 If this is a product the OEM sells itself, and OEMs just to you, then
you should avoid changing it. Work
with your SW team and the OEM to decide how much differentiation is
appropriate.
3 If this is a product the OEM doesn't sell, but just OEMs to others,
then they should already be set up for
customizing the docs. You should customize it according to their
instructions.
If not, suggest it to them.
4 If this is a product the OEM wrote only for you, then you should
re-brand it to yourself and edit it as
well.
But heck, what do I know?
Joe Malin
Technical Writer
(408)625-1623
jmalin -at- tuvox -dot- com
www.tuvox.com
The views expressed in this document are those of the sender, and do not
necessarily reflect those of TuVox, Inc.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+jmalin=tuvox -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+jmalin=tuvox -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf
Of Janice Gelb
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 1:10 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Incorporating third-party books
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