Re: Asimov is a _PIRATE_ site. Face the Facts

[jefbla@bconnex.net (Jeff Blakeney)]

rder@pro-palmtree.cts.com (Richard Der) wrote:
>jefbla@bconnex.net (Jeff Blakeney) wrote:
>>There is one point that I didn't make real clear in my post in the
>>other thread on this subject.  Most of the cracked versions of
>>programs that are on asimov are versions that were cracked by
>>"pirates" many years ago.  This is why the title screens and such have
>>been modified.  The people who have made this software available on
>>asimov usually are not the ones who did the cracking.  They are just
>>uploading a cracked version that they have had on disk for years and
>>have no control over whether the copyright notices or credits still
>>exist on that particular copy.
> 
>That is terrible. How are they (or conscientious downloaders) going
>to try to contact publishers/authors if the credits are erased.
> 
>It is hard for anyone to condone Asimov for leaving such nameless
>wares there. Even those who feel that the copyright holders will
>not recieve monetary gain from the titles anymore should realize
>something is wrong when people can no longer know who wrote them.

Yes, it would be very good to see the original title screen,
copyrights and credits.  Even if only to see what year the program was
actually written and marvel at how advanced it was for its time.  :)

But, like I said, this was a practice that happened years ago and, if
we feel the need, is something that we will have to try to fix.

>>Mind you, all that would need to be done is to get some hackers with
>>copies of the originals to restore the original title screens,
>>copyright notices and credits.
>>
>>So, yes, things at asimov could be improved upon.  It is just a matter
>>of finding people with the time and expertise to expend on this
>>effort.
> 
>Of course it is not going to be easy for them to reform, but if
>they want to be legit, they have to. Otherwise, they can't blame
>people for blasting them in the court of public opinion.

True.  When I first discovered the site I really didn't know what to
make of it.  But the service that we would like to see (for restoring
dead disks and preserving classic software and maybe reclassifying
titles as PD or freeware and possibly making a compilation CD of
classics) is sort of being filled by asimov at present.  Unfortunately
it is doing other things that we would rather not see.

If asimov will not reform, there is nothing stopping any of us from
trying to set up the service I just outlined in the paragraph above
and leaving asimov to fend for itself once the copyright holders find
out (possibly from us) that their works are being made available
there.

It is certainly something to consider and we could all be involved in
tracking down copyright holders (unlike the Lost Classics project
which was only run by a few).  We could make the rules and then follow
them and encourage everyone else to do so as well.

Boy, have you ever got me talking.  Normally I just lurk in the
background (mostly due to lack of time) but you certainly have been
giving my typing skills a work out.  :)