Re: No longer free to write your own software either

[Marsha Jackson <menacechgo@aol.com>]

**** **** wrote:

>  It's official. If you can't afford the software that you want, too bad.
> You no longer have the option of cranking out the compiler and writing your
> own. This judgement concerns independently developed software that in no way
> makes use of the original's source code, or patented algorithms.
>     Also, it's interesting to note, that those software developers who are
> affected the most (at least initially) are those who author small
> puzzle/arcade type games. This wasn't Sony vs. Nintendo, this was Megacorp
> vs. guy who wrote his own game on a whim.
>     Any comments?

You can write _YOUR OWN_ software, the problem is selling it.
There is a difference in copying the 'look and feel' of software for personal
use, and doing the same and selling it. There is also a difference between an
ordinary chess program and something like BattleChess.

So when a company (Webfoot Technologies) advertises "Its" games as "A new spin
on the most popular video game of all time", they are saying that the games are
similar to well known existing games. But since Webfoot doesn't own the rights
to these games, selling look alike products can get them in legal trouble.

AfterDark is the only company that can officially have Flying Toasters (although
I have similar running on TwilightII).
MS Windows vs. Mac/IIGS operating systems, have different open/close boxes,
trash can, etc.

Marsha
(who has here share of both original and clone software)