Re: Asimov is a _PIRATE_ site. Face the Facts

[johnlb@Primenet.Com (John Bowling)]

In article <4srk6u$b6e@blackice.winternet.com>,
Nathan Mates <nathan@parka.winternet.com> wrote:
>In article <4srf5k$jhc@news.wco.com>,
>Charles T. Turley <turley@optera.com> wrote:
>>I don't consider Asimov to be a pirate site. Thus, I intend to keep my 
>>links to the many useful things it has to offer to many computer 
>>platforms and their users, that they could never obtain - with respect 
>>to such useful and needed rarities - if Asimov were not available and 
>>known to them.
>
>   It doesn't matter beans what you think. It's the eys of the courts
>that count for anything, and their decision making process is simple
>enough that we can follow it:
>
>1) Asimov has _some_ legitimate software, especially in the code for
>emulators on other systems. The authors gave permission to pass the
>software around at will. [We're taking the emulator programs, not ROM
>images.]
>
>2) Asimov has _lots_ of software posted for which it has _NO_ license.
>Specifically, I have seen no license from Apple (and Microsoft, which
>helped in Applesoft Basic) saying that the ROM images posted there are
>in any way allowed. Further, for most to all of the software, there is
>no similar notice from the publisher stating that the software has
>moved to the public domain or a license has been granted to asimov to
>distribute it.
>
>3) As a signatory to the Berne Convention, copyrights on software, etc
>last for the author's lifetime _plus_ 50 years. As no titles are
>available from 1946 or before for the Apple II, _no_ copyrights have
>expired.
>
>4) Therefore, as the games, ROM images, and the like are still
>copyrighted, thery are _NOT_ to be distributed. Asimov is distributing
>them. Asimov is a pirate site.
>
>   Usefulness and rarity is _NOT_ an excuse for the general public to
>be able to download pirated stuff. At best, it is a pathetic excuse to
>salve up a conscience that knows that what it's doing is wrong, but
>they have no self-control to do the right thing.
>
>   I wish the legitimate stuff at asimov could be split off to another
>site so that people could be referred to those programs, then the rest
>could be nuked.
>
>Nathan Mates

But, Nathan, you do, and have for some time, had a link to it from your
web page.

Granted, it would be nice if the stuff could be split, but without someone
volunteering to create a web page with just the legal stuff, it probably
won't happen.  Perhaps your link should instead be just the legal stuff
to download.

John


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- John Bowling          -- Shouldn't you be commuting by bicycle?
- johnlb@primenet.com   -- No, that's not a valid excuse!
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