Re: CD of all Files on Asimov

[drice@enuxsa.eas.asu.edu (David Rice)]

In article <51blf0$7dq@sun.rhrk.uni-kl.de>,
Marvin <guenter@student.uni-kl.de> wrote:

>change the legal status of the programs. Even companies like Sierra
>who have never been very enthusiastic about the Apple II have
>released titles into the Public Domain. If you are too lazy to do
>that,  well it's your own fault if you are asking for trouble... ;)

I think that asking companies to release software to the "public domain" 
is a little unreasonable.  This would allow another company to take the 
software and sell it, etc.  If any company chooses to change the legal 
status of their software, they should retain the copyright, but permit 
free distribution of the software.  This would be similar to the concept 
of "copyrighted freeware".  

I agree completely that discussing this matter with the software 
companies is the way to go.  Even if the companies choose not to release 
their software for free (and they have every right to refuse to do so), 
the show of interest might prompt them to re-release the title.
-- 
David Rice     
<drice@asu.edu>