Re: Asimov performs a valuable service; so why fight over it

[Steve Jensen <sjensen@primenetyourknife.com>]

tward@XXXXenteract.com writes:
: Rubywand,
:  
: I am truly astonished at your ability to twist the facts and present your
: arguments in such a convincing manner. Just because the Apple II is an
: old, some would say dead, computer doesn't mean its software is covered by
: a different set of copyright laws. Wizardry I is covered by the same law
: that protects Myst. The only difference is the size of the customer base.
:  
: Granted, very few companies are going to complain about the Asimov site.
: I will go so far as to agree that some of them, if they knew about Asimov,
: would embrace the tiny bit of publicity. But that does not make it right.
: The US government knows that nicotine causes cancer, yet they continue to
: allow tobacco companies to grow and sell their product in the US. Does
: that make it right? Of course not.
:  
Not a good analogy.  I smoke and I know the risks.  I drink beer and own
some interesting guns and drive a SUV.  I used to own a blown injected
dragster.  I don't need you or anyone else protecting me. 

: I do believe that the Asimov site provides a useful service. There's no
: point in letting old software die because it is no longer being sold. But
: there are rules for this sort of thing. You keep saying that it's up to
: the copyright holder to come forward and complain if he/she so desires.
: That's like saying it's up to my neighbor to complain about the burning
: pile of old tires in my backyard that's polluting the neighborhood. I
: can burn those tires all I want until someone proves it's doing some harm,
: right? I can give away someone else's software until he comes forward to
: make me stop, right?
:  
: The problem here is that =most= of the software on the Asimov site really
: deserves to be there. =Most= of it is old software created by people who
: no longer care one way or another about it. Does that make it right? No.
: But who's going to complain? Unfortunately =some= of the software has no
: business being there. I wonder if Roger Wagner is aware that Merlin is
: there. Roger, if I am not mistaken, is still selling Merlin. Maybe the one
: on Asimov is an older version, but that's an invalid argument. Same goes
: for AppleWorks.
:  
: You want a specific example of piracy? Okay. I wonder if InTrec is aware
: that ProTERM 3.1, yes the latest version that is still being sold
: commercially, is being given away free of charge on Asimov. That, my
: friend, is piracy pure and simple. Well, InTrec is aware now because I
: told them about it yesterday.

Are you sure that it's not the demo version that was released?

:  
: You will notice that I am sitting on the fence here. I agree with some
: of what you say, and disagree with some. I don't hate you. I don't like
: you. I don't even know you. I'm simply stating some facts and opinions.
 
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