Re: CD of all Files on Asimov

[russotto@ariel.ct.picker.com (Matthew Russotto)]

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

}I have followed the discussion about the Asimov site for many weeks
}and I don't understand the emotions on both sides. It's not the fact
}that the software is old that allows anybody to pirate it, it's the
}fact that the original publishers have stopped selling it. Asimov
}has a policy which sounds good, they don't place wares on their
}server which are still sold. Nice policy, but could be better... If
}the SysAdmins on Asimov do really want to keep the II alive, they
}should try to find the original publishers and persuade them to
}change the legal status of the programs. 

A task of Herculean proportions.  Many companies simply went bankrupt, with 
the rights reverting to the authors (just try to find them...).
Others were bought for various reasons, and the companies that own the
rights probably don't even think about them anymore -- until you start
asking them about it, at which point they will defend them out of
corporate reflex.  Best to leave well enough alone.  You can wake the 
sleeping dragon and ask her for her least-prized eggs, or you can
just sneak past her and take them.  The former course may be the moral
high road, but take along some asbestos underwear!