Re: The software piracy issue

[tmcdan19@skypoint.com (Terry McDanel)]

Ian Schmidt (irsman@winternet.com) wrote:
: In article <4p3qqg$bdr@usenet10.interramp.com>,
: Tom Zuchowski  <cd003508@interramp.com> wrote:

: >Having said that, I agree that Asimov should NOT have any software title 
: >that can still be purchased commercially.  However, I don't think I have a 
: >real problem with titles that have been out of print for 10 years.

: Doesn't matter, copyright lasts a lot longer.  Joe, care to repost that FAQ
: again?  Commercial availability does not determine copyright.


I dont think Tom is thinking of the legality.  I consider it a more a 
question of ethics.  If we trade Commercially available software we hurt 
the software companies, programmers, the software market, retailers, 
the ][ users, and ultimately ourselves.

The same is true of recently out of print software that could find a 
viable buyer for the copyright.

I do not think it is true of very old software that have no realistic 
prospects of ever being revived, often because the company is very long 
gone, source files have long been lost, and the original programmers have 
long lost interest and moved on.  In fact, it may be *more ethical* to 
preserve interesting, useful code for history's sake rather than blindly 
following the letter of the law.  Who knows how our grandkids will see 
these machines, if at all.

I should also add this is covered territory in this group.  A lot of 
people feel the opposite for good reason.  I respect that.  It is only 
accademic for me anyway because like most people i'm not going to spend 
my valuable time trying to figure how to upload Applewriter ][.  

I will probably get flamed, i can handle it, i'm a big boy, please dont 
make me cry though, i cry easily.

Later, terry.