Advice on licensing not quite accurate...

[bjbear@ibm.net (B.J. Major & Dennis J. Gorin)]

Forgive my intrusion back into this group for a brief moment, but in the
past few days I have found out some important information regarding
licensing from Apple concerning the copying of System software disks
(including other system disks that came with original //c and //e
computers, etc.)

For those not familiar with the story, I originally offered to copy a set
of disks that came with the Apple //c computer for a person who had just
picked up a //c in a thrift store and had no software for it.  These disks
include System Utilities, The Inside Story, The Apple at Work, The Apple at
Play, etc.  (There were similar disks included with the //e when purchased
new.)

I was promptly told by Nathan Mates that I would require a license from
Apple to do this copying legally.  He cited someone else that was
distributing *their own* unique disks (not what I was doing, BTW)  and
having to purchase a yearly license from Apple just so he could include
ProDOS on it.  This situation did not and still does not apply to me.  I am
not distributing my own collection of *anything* and tacking on Apple's
ProDOS or other system to it.  I am offering to copy a set of original
disks that do not exist anymore--even from Apple--for one other person. 
Second, the suggestion to go through user's groups to get these "licensed"
copies made is getting to be a harder and harder thing to do for most
people as user groups have been drastically reduced in number -- even in
most larger cities.  The only alternative seemed to be getting an
individual license--but I still questioned this.

However, it has been confirmed on an emailed digest list that I received
today that either obtaining an individual license or going through a user
group is NOT always necessary to obtain System software.  This was
confirmed on the telephone today, by Apple Computer.  Someone on the other
end of the line who does direct development work FOR Apple made the call,
found out, and emailed me immediately.  They will also be posting the
information.  Apple confirmed on the phone that you may charge the person a
fee for the media (floppies) and a copy fee, but not for the
software--which is what I understood from the very beginning.

So I hope this puts this discussion and misguided advice given out on this
subject to rest.

--bj
Apple //--///--Macintosh user/supporter/collector