Re: piracy, Asimov, you, and me

[wbaguhn@nyx10.cs.du.edu (Will Baguhn)]

In article <gt86222@pro-palmtree.cts.com>,
Richard Der <rder@pro-palmtree.cts.com> wrote:
> 
>wbaguhn@nyx10.cs.du.edu (Will Baguhn) wrote:
>>If they are doing something about it, the programs would be
>>disappearing from Asimov slowly.  If they cared and knew, they'd be
>>either doing something about it or they would have decided to let it
>>slide, becuase it wasn't that important anyway.
> 
>Unfortunately, legal action takes money and we all know that those
>that still develop for the Apple II are no Micro$ofts. This does not
>mean they are not upset. They are and have said so here.
> 
>I just ran into a post in comp.sys.apple2.com asking someone to upload
>GBBS Pro, a currently available commercial BBS program, to Asimov.
> 
>This is not a worthless discussion. At the very least, it will make
>people realize that Asimov is doing something wrong so they won't
>do something stupid like upload AppleWorks GS to the site.
> 
>You seem to think that Asimov is doing more good than harm. Ok, I
>respect that that is your opinion. To me, however, it seems that
>Asimov is taking advantage of emulators as a cover to pirate software.
>True, most of the software is old, but some are still published/sold.
>Naturally, since there are only 8-bit emulators and there are few
>current 8-bit Apple II titles, you are going to see mostly out of
>print titles. Soon, however, IIGS emulators will emerge and they
>will start uploading current GS titles.

When the IIgs emulators come out, there will be less need for a
repository of disk images for the IIgs... just about every Macintosh
can read a IIgs disk, and this is NOT the case for Apple II 5.25"s.

>For Asimov to be a legit service, they have to at least try to
>ask permission first. Again, I ask: how do they KNOW that the
>authors don't have plans for the software? Many of us see the
>good side of Asimov in its potential to be a site where old software
>can be archived and made available. Some of us would just like
>to see them do this legitimately.

It would be nice to see it legitimate, but I doubt that it's going
to happen. You are correct; we don't KNOW that the authors haven't
plans for the software (I have the feeling that Microsloth holds
quite a few of the copyrights at the moment, due to the existence
of their Arcade Games collection (unsure of exact title)).

>This discussion should really span to comp.emulators.apple2. I
>am going to try to post there, as Jeff Blakeney suggested.
>A copy of the guidelines that Jeffrey Robertson posted is a good
>start. [Tried to do this once w/o sucessess. There is an idiotic
>"spamerjamer" that prevents big quotes on cea2. IMHO, this is a
>big downfall of automoderators where they may block legitimate
>discussion.]
> 
> 
>>It may be the law, but I seriously doubt that we've all followed the
>>law exactly all our lives and been perfect little angels.  Everyone
>>who's whining about following the letter of the law... you've never
>>driven 60 mph in a 55 mph zone when nobody was looking, have you?
>>Even though it didn't really hurt anyone, it's STILL illegal.
> 
>It is more than the letter of the law. Some people are still
>publishing/selling the software. Authors' names are being erased
>from their works. How would you like to have one of your works
>that you put in a closet years ago being distributed with someone
>elses name on it? To me, this violates intent of law also.

Yes, the original author's names should be restored... but who
wants to sector-edit in things that will be "right", instead of
things that will make the person doing the sector edits cool? ;)

>>And to whoever made the analogy about stealing chairs from the
>>backyard: it's more like sneaking in and sitting on the
>>oh-so-comfortable chairs while you're not there.  Yes, we probably
>>shouldn't sit on the chairs, but when you tell us to leave we'll
>>apologize and disappear. (I'd guess that asimov would take it down,
>>anyway.)
> 
>Tresspassing, effacing of property (scratching out the owners' names
>from the chairs and writing "cracked by ____"). Asimov leaves when
>you tell him to, yes, but he certainly dosn't apologize.
>
>
>-----
>The Palmtree BBS  310-453-8726 v.32
>Inet: rder@pro-palmtree.cts.com
>


-- 
                                      --- Rev. SPQR (wbaguhn@nyx.net)