Re: [RFC] Reclassification list

[rubywand@swbell.net]

Willie Yeo wrote:
> 
>         Since the works of commercial software have been reclassified to
> the 'Freeware' status, I think it is best that someone keeps a record of
> the software that falls under this category.
> 
>         I have a verification email for Medley v2.1 with me, and I would
> like to volunteer to keep a list, if everyone supports this idea of having
> this list. It should be posted on a monthly basis of those software.
> 
>         The software titles will only be added to the list if some form of
> verification is received, via email, posting or letter, by someone who is
> in authority to do so, i.e. must have his name and position in it.
> 
>         Any more ideas and comment on this ?


     This could be a good deal of work; but, it sounds like a good idea.

     A problem will be getting anything like guaranteed, authentic 
verification for more than a very few wares. As recent examples have 
illustrated, there is virtually no such thing on the net.

     About the best one can reasonably expect is that someone, posting 
from his/her own genuine email address is willing to claim that 
a product is public domain, freeware, or shareware and supply 
some reason to believe that the claim is true. So long as the claim 
is not challenged, those who reference the list would have some 
reason to believe that the product belongs in the list.

     You could go to the trouble of following up claims (e.g. by calling 
vendors, etc.) but, obviously, there is no way a single individual 
will be able to track down and validate every claim.