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

[GUDATH@EZINFO.VMSMAIL.ETHZ.CH (Henrik 'Ratte' Gudat)]

In <1998042113355700.JAA17556@ladder03.news.aol.com> supertimer@aol.com writes:

> There is one problem with this argument being applied to Asimov.
> 
> As long as software has commercial value, that software, even if out
> of publication, needs to be protected.
> 
> I have read that when Joe Kohn complained that the Atarisoft titles
> that he paid good money to Big Red Computer Club for was found
> on Asimov and Asimov was contacted, it did nothing about it.

I fully agree. However, there is still a problem with it.

The problem is that people sympathizing with Asimov consider piracy (that's
what it is) an acceptable approach as long as the copyright holder or reseller
does not complain. In other words, this means that as a developer I would have
to spend 24 hours of a day looking for warez sites offering my software and
then asking the webmaster politely to remove it.

In the case of Asimov, they do not only carry copyrighted software without
trying to reclassify it, they are ignoring requests from resellers. I'd love to
see an explanation for this.

Personally, I think the "it doesn't hurt anyone" attitude is just a bad
excuse for a free ride. The only way to stay on the safe side is to get
clearance from the authors/distributors. This involves some work, but if you
really want to enjoy an old software again it should be worth it.

Good moment to remind everyone of Willie Yeo's efforts to get software
rereleased legally.

- henrik