Re: CD of all Files on Asimov

[elfu551@srv0.law.ed.ac.uk (Jules)]

In article <518720$gem@darla.visi.com>, nathan@visi.com (Nathan Mates) wrote:

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Look ladies and gentlemen, I hate to rain on your parade but
(i)  copyright is enforceable ONLY by the person who LEGALLY owns the 
copyright.  Therefore unless you own the copyright, don't go off mouthing 
about what you are going to do because it won't hold water unless the 
copyright owner has granted a disposition of said right to you and you wish to 
pursue the matter in a civil action.

(ii) I don't understand why you can't let this thing die.  OK, if it was 
current MW2 software or stuff that has just been released then fine.  Good and 
rpoper, nail the pirates yes.  If that guy who is trying to put the stuff on 
CD and sell it is caught red handed, prosecute him, fine.  But I'd just like 
to tell you that at least in Europe, and most definitely in Scotland, there is 
the concept of prescription which covers the extinction of rights not 
exercised for periods of 10/20 years depend on the type of prescription as 
well as the type of property and the argument involved.  So, let's see, when 
was a typical Apple ][ software piece written...? take rescue raiders.  I 
seriously doubt that the rights to RR will be exercised by the copyright 
holder and if they tried to now, their right to it would have been 
extinguished.  Now how that applies to copyright is a matter to yet be 
decided, but there has been plenty of case law regarding forms/wills/property 
etc and it is not inconceivable that the exercise of copyright may fall under 
negative prescription, at least in Scotland and Europe.  So if there is an 
asimov mirror in Europe, then hard cheese as the British would say....

So why don't you leave it up to whoever OWNS the copyright instead of wasting 
bandwidth, creating trouble and generally trying to make waves.  I for one 
look at this newsgroup because it reminds me of the good ol days (and i still 
have my Apple ][ thought inoperable) when Choplifter ruled.  You guys are just 
trying to sour things up for everyone who yearns for some nostalgia.  If you 
want to help your fellow programmers, i suggest you go and find out (a) who 
actually owns the copyright, and (b) ask them to get in touch with the sysops 
to remove their software IF THEY WISH TO TAKE THAT COURSE OF ACTION.
Otherwise, in my eyes, you are just using that 'help my fellow programmer' 
argument for your own personal ends (eg. trying to show yourself as caring 
when all you're doing is stirring up trouble and people's emotions....)