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First question is pretty simple, anybody endorse it, or at least render an opinion?

Second question. So a long time ago, in a land far, far away, I starting writing Visual Basic 6 software to communicate with TMCC, decode messages and send commands. The biggest issue back then was the computer was far away from the Command Base. Not an issue any more, have several spare computers. But I always wanted to work on it someday. Would having a copy get in me into trouble if I ever tried to duplicate functionality? Will, not duplicate, my wild dreams are write the software in Qt so it could run on Windows/Linux/MacOS and Android/iOS. Also touch screen control would be the emphasis, I have a touch screen laptop.

Seems his software gives me what I want, a way to control Lionel trains with an Android phone. Yes I get that I need to either connect a serial cable from PC to SER2, or, use WiFi. I have both a SER2 and the Wifi device, and tried the Lionel app on an old iPhone and I was 'underwhelmed' all I can figure is Lionel gives you a stripped down version if an iPhone 6 (its my daughter's old phone). I understand I have to pay for the Android app as well.

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Are you asking if there is a legal problem in writing your own software with the same functionality as another program, whether you own it or not?

If that's your question, then the answer is that copyright law absolutely permits you to copy the functionality of someone else's program. You may not copy the underlying program code, but the ideas and functionality of a program are not protected by copyright and are free for anyone to copy.

It is sometimes possible to protect functionality of a program with a patent, but that is not the case here.

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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