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

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:

>     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.

I don't know about that...if "speculators" mean retailers, I would think
they are under some sort of legal constraint.  If some music is out
of print, but Tower records is harmed by piracy of that title, then they
can request that the law be enforced as I understand it.  Copyright
law is meant not only to protect copyright holders, but also retailers.

It all depends on how valuable the product is.  In Joe Kohn's Atarisoft
case, I think it is valuable enough to be a real concern.  Atarisoft
sold the stock to Big Red Computer Club which sold the stock to
Shareware Solutions II.  We are not talking about just a few copies
here....

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

I am all for sane discussion, as this is turning out to be...

>    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.

That will go a long way to making the Asimov argument work.  If
retailers can be protected, that makes the argument more legit.

The argument has some merit -- Cut & Paste word processor for
Electronic Arts is one title that is truely out of print, its publisher
unavailable.  When a copy protected disk dies, one more copy of
this software is gone.  Just yesterday, someone lost one of his
disks to damage...Asimov would serve a legitamate purpose here.

However, in order for the Asimov argument to work, RETAILERS
COMPLAINTS MUST ALSO BE RESPECTED.  If wares available
on Asimov harms ANYONE in the economic sense, then by the
very definition, it is piracy.

One more thing that would make Asimov more acceptable is if
they accept files in .shk format.  If Asimov really wants to be a
real service to real A2 users as well as emulators, they should
support this format too...