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

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Henrik 'Ratte' Gudat writes ...
> 
> In <353C4F50.B26AD9EE@swbell.net> Rubywand writes:
> 
> > > It is still pirating, that is fact.
> >
> >
> >      No; it is not. If a copyright holder does not object to his/her old
> > out-of-print program being available on Asimov for downloading and
> > enjoyment, then no one has incurred a loss or been damaged. Just the
> > opposite is true.
> 
> You can turn it the way you want, but it's still piracy.

     So you say. You are mistaken.


> The definition of
> piracy is not dealing with who gets hurt or not but that the right to > copy
> software is being violated by a third party.

     Evidently, "the definition of piracy" is whatever you feel like it
should be at any given moment. Asimov is under no legal constraint to
protect speculators in old, out of print wares.

     It may be that, if approached sanely and politely, Asimov managers
can be persuaded to promote the efforts of old wares sellers.


> That is exactly what Asimov is
> doing and what you are endorsing.
>

    And, so, would it be fair to call you a "Promoter of Piracy"? Of
course not. Yet, without disk image archive sites and Mac users
interested in downloading disk images, everyone knows very well that
your Bernie IIgs emulator would be merely a nice curiosity. 


    No doubt, you will be surprised to learn that, via calm, polite
email, my efforts have been directed toward suggesting a policy of
protecting software sellers of old wares-- sellers who, in fact, truly
make the old wares available.

    Rant posts which ignore both legalities and reality and which hurl
false accusations are of no help.

 
Rubywand