Re: Abandonware petition

[Justin Scott <djnospam@impakt.net>]

Cturley2 <cturley2@aol.com> wrote:
> Thanks for the reply above Brendon.  Copy II+ for the Apple II series is an
> old and valued utility program that many Apple II users can SOON find for
> public access and download from my web site in the folder named:
> 
> http://www.apple2.net/gswv/A2.LOST.N.FOUND.CLASSICS/

Of course don't forget ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net

Tons of software is archived here, including Copy ][+ which resides in the
/pub/apple_II/images/utility/disk_utils directory.  

I can understand everyone's concern over copyrights and such.  

Personally, I'm not asking that anyone give up their rights to the software, 
just don't prosecute those who are trying to preserve the computing history 
that is fading into oblivion.

There really isn't much of a market in historical retrocomputing software
packages.  So long as people don't sell a COPY of the program, no damage is
really done, as most of these people/companies haven't made a penny on any of
this software in 15+ years. 

Allowing distribution of old software (even when the copyrights are still held)
doesn't do any serious harm to a company (that I can see).  It allows people
who either A) Had an apple long ago, and recently picked one up for nostalgic
reasons, B) Never had an apple, but collect computers for historical reasons,
or C) who never experienced using these antiques --- It allows them all a
chance to see a broad representation of the capabilities of these machines.

In 300 years, if any of our gear still powers on, it will be useless as a
historical artifact without software.  Do the world a favor, and allow the bits
to be distributed without litigation against those who are preserving our
history.

Apple ][: Forever!  

(Written on a //e connected to the serial console of my unix server)

cheers,
j