Re: Asimov Mirror Sites ... and the legality myth

["Quantum_Cat" <anonymous@cotse.com>]

Hiya, Rosy..


 *>     The plain fact is that offering the old, out-of-print 
software is not
 *>illegal. A software copyright is private property. No 
current anti-piracy

The plain fact is that you couldn't recognize a plain fact if 
it clamped it's jaws on your keister..

 *>laws, either in intention or in fact, are directed to the 
protection of
 *>software property which has no significant commercial 
value.

The law says nothing aobut commercial value.  It says 
everything about the copyright holders right to do with his 
property what he wishes for a certain amount (long!) of time.

Your babbling assertions are simply more spittle in the wind.

 *>     Instead, as with most private property, it is left to 
the oldie
 *>software rights owner to call for assistance to enforce 
ownership rights
 *>when this is desired. So, about the closest any of the 
old-software archives
 *>can to get to involvement with the Law is a civil cease 
and desist order.
 *>Even this is very unlikely since the sites routinely offer 
to withdraw any
 *>item if so requested by an owner.

And we know that it is unlikely that anyone will find it 
economical to file suit.  That doesn't make it legal.  
Understand?  Sheesh... Most thieves do their business in 
secret.  Only Turlettes brag about it in a public forum.

 *>     Putting the above more directly, you may be sure 
that, were it, per se,
 *>illegal to distribute old, out-of-print software without 
the owner's express
 *>permission, we would not have spent so much time and 
energy debating the
 *>ethics of such distribution. The Law would act to enforce 
the supposed

No... It's just that Turlettes are particularly dense and 
"Clintonesque" about the meaning of words and the law.  And 
if you can cloud the issue with bullshit, you can con another 
sucker into hosting your ftp pirate sites.

You think we haven't noticed that those sites never show up 
on swbell or grin?  Heh heh...

 *>statutes, the sites would be closed, and any debates about 
ethics would be
 *>largely academic.

Take a close look, RosyWanker... The sites ARE being closed.  
Sorta shoots holes in your moronic argument, doesn't it.  :)

 *>     It is _because_ the distribution is not illegal and 
because most rights
 *>owners choose not to express a position one way or the 
other and because we
 *>do not wish to damage the value of anyone's property that 
ethical concerns
 *>have practical impact.

OK.. you claim that distribution without permission is not 
illegal, and in the same sentence refer to a right that 
owners might choose not to express.  You really can't have it 
both ways, clown.

 *>     As has been demonstrated several times in the past, 
it is reasonable to
 *>conclude that having an old, out-of-print product 
available for download by
 *>users benefits the rights owner as well as those involved 
in creating the
 *>product. Unless there is some special circumstance which 
indicates that
 *>availability would damage an item's value, or the owner 
objects, then,
 *>offering the product for free, open download is the 
reasonable, ethically
 *>correct thing to do. 

No.. We've seen your assertions over and over again.  There 
has been no demonstration that the copyright laws of the US 
and the agreements between other countries concerning 
copyright have been declared null and void on your say so.  
You're just piling the bullshit on higher and higher.  And 
demonstrating your lack of morals and your willingness to lie 
for your "cause".

 *>     Admittedly, talk of "illegality" adds a touch of 
'speak easy' pizzazz
 *>to these debates. Some users clearly enjoy the myth of 
skirting the Law in

Sigh... You're such a sick sad loser..

 *>dealings with a shady Apple II underworld. Alas, 'it just 
ain't so'. Asimov
 *>is a perfectly legal, well known archive which has been 
around for years.
 *>'Fairway, Emunation, Vault, etc. are not secrets, either.

Known.  Not legal.  Umm... I'm unfamiliar with some of those 
sites, Rosy...  I guess you pirates can keep some secrets.

Bald assertions repeated over and over again don't equate 
truth, you frigging liar.

 *>     If you can download Ultima, Bard's Tale, Champions of 
Krynn, etc. from
 *>these places, it is not because the archives are engaged 
in a deadly battle
 *>against major game makers. It is because Origin, 
Interplay, SSI, ... are run
 *>by people who know that availability of their oldies 
boosts sales of current
 *>offerings.

And now you'll tell us how.  Oh?  Can't think of a reason to 
back up your statement?  Why am I not surprised.  Just 
another lie.

 *>     These archives do, indeed, have to battle libelous 
postings, hacker
 *>sabotage attempts, and what amount to denial of service 
email attacks on
 *>their ISP's by the few remaining vogon types. But, none of 
these sites
 *>flaunts the Law and no law enforcement authority is going 
to arrest anyone
 *>who downloads the software they offer.

Oh, get a grip, Rosy.. You've gone offshore to some edu sites 
with some idiots who will be losing their accounts after 
graduation anyway.  Don't blame DOS on vogons.. We just 
inform the powers that be that thieves have been misusing 
their accounts.  :)

And if the law doesn't enforce copyright, the ISP's do.  
That's good enough for me for the time being.  :)

Vogons For a Turlette Free Apple II Community!

Quantum_Cat

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