Re: Note to QC & PG

["Arkain" <rwking@no.usa.spam.net>]

Paul Grammens <grammens@svn.net> wrote in message
397c87d3@news1.svn.net">news:397c87d3@news1.svn.net...
>
> Arkain <rwking@no.usa.spam.net> wrote in message
> news:397c54c5$1@hal.grnco.net...
> > You know, I just wanted to know what the terms meant. You've just proven
> > that some things must be seen first hand to be fully understood. Now I
> think
> > I do.
> >
> > Vogon                Turlette
> > ----------------     -------------
> > Quantum_Cat          Paul Grammens
> >
>
> That's meaningless. <sniped>

True, but as I said. That was just an observation to ensure I understood the
concept.

> Got that? Nothing would please me more than to see the end of this, I'm
here
> to learn more and share what I've learned about the Apple II.

... as have I...

> But I've
> decided to fight fire with fire. I'm not going to let the vogons
monopolize
> this forum and attack valuable contributors without feeling the flames
> themselves.

If you keep continuing to fight fire w/ fire then you, QC, Tom, Ruby and all
the others in this inane battle, will end up burning out the whole A2
community and dry up all the resource that we all prize so much. So don't be
surprisedif I rain out your bonfire.

<snipped>
> > You to are bantering over the legalities of some
> > thing who's legal status is clearly known.
>
> Ah, but it isn't. While most of the software I use such as Shrinkit and
> Wolfenstein 3D explicitly state that they can be used and copied freely,
> that's not what this is all about.  This is about situations where the
> status isn't known. I'm not in favor of copying software that the
copyright
> holder is still selling or where the copyright holder objects.

Not quite true. If the company or the author(s) still exist, the law favors
the copyright. That's pretty much cut & dry. If neither the company or the
author(s) are around anymore, then there is no copyright seeing as how there
is no copyright holder. So, unless I'm missing something, the copyright
status *IS* known.

> These vogon kooks are extremists. For example, people have kindly sent me
> copies of drivers for some of the old hardware I've scrounged.  I'm sure
> that technically, that's a violation of of the copyright.  I'm not losing
> any sleep over it, though, and no, I'm not going to research the current
> copyright status and search the galaxy for the copyright holders to ask
> their permission.

If the "vogons" are so worried about A2 copyrights, then why are they not
helping to solve the problem instead of flamimg?

> >
> > IMNSHO, if the softawre has really been abandoned, then use it *AT YOUR
> OWN
> > RISK* and remove it if the copyright owner requests.
>
> That's about the only intelligent sentence in your whole post. I agree
with
> that. Congratulations, you just joined the "pirates".

No. That's the only statement in my post that you agree with. All the other
statement bear equal intelligence and forethought. Please refrain from
slander when speaking to/about me.

> > We really need to just
> > get together and petition these companies to release their non-viable A2
> > software to public domain so as to avoid all such inane issues.
> >
>
> Some people are doing that, and more power to them. That's not the issue.
> The issue is software where the current copyright holder is not known, or
if
> known, doesn't express any interest. The vogons presume to speak for those
> copyright holders. I say the the vogons should mind their own business.

Oh, but that is the issue. If the copyright holder doesn't express any
interest, then it's our duty to either get the holder interested or get the
holder to release the copyright. If we don't, the software will remain in
copyright limbo.

> You really have to wonder about the mental stability of people who view
the
> copying of ancient abandonware as a great concern, and rant on about it
> repeatedly and at great length.  What a bunch of kooks...
> -Paul

Could not someone equally say:

You really have to wonder about the mental stability of people who argue
with the people who view the copying of ancient abandonware as a great
concern, and rant on about it repeatedly and at great length.  What a bunch
of kooks...

In the end, both extreems are equally as nutty, IMHO.

Arkain