Re: German CD-ROM (Was: Re: Addressing home-made adapter cards)

[rwifall@nmsu.edu (Richard J Wifall)]

Glenn Taylor (gtaylor@sr.hp.com) wrote:
: Richard J Wifall (rwifall@nmsu.edu) wrote:

: You still don't get it, do you?  If you distribute software using the

	I'm sorry sir, but you are the one who does not get it.

: shareware distribution channel, then you shouldn't care how many people
: get a copy of your program.  The idea of shareware is to get it into
: as many hands as possible and then let users decide if they want to
: register.  If your software is worth registering, many users will send
: in the registration fee.  True, there are people out there who do not
: register software that they use, but shareware authors usually know this
: going in.  (There are a lot of people using illegal copies of commercial
: software too!)

	[Reasons why you do not get it]

	The point is not whether or not my software is shareware or
not.  What this usergroup is doing (putting my software on their
CD-ROM without my permission) is just like someone putting someone
elses commercial software on a CD-ROM and selling it.  In the United
States there are copyright laws to help protect authors from this.
There may also be International and/or local laws that Germany follows
that apply to this.  I don't know.

: If you truely believe in the shareware distribution channel, then you
: have to accept the bad with the good.  With shareware, the goal is mass
: distribution into the hands of as many users (potential customers) as
: possible.  When you start putting restictions on the distribution, (such
: as limiting which types of media are acceptable for the distribution of
: your software), then you in effect disable one of the prime advantages
: for using the shareware distribution channel.

	You seem to think that all shareware is the same or something.
You are missing a MAJOR point that I have stressed repeatedly and will
stress one last time before I give up on you.  I own ALL rights to my
software.  If I want it to only be distributed on BBS's where there
are at least three people with the name Bob, that is my right.  If I
want it to be distributed only on media where there is less then a
five dollar fee, that is my right.  If I want it to not be distributed
by GEnie or AOL that is also my right.

	It doesn't matter how YOU think the best and greatest ways to
distribute shareware is.  I could care less what you think the prime
advantages of shareware software are.  The point is that I have placed
restrictions on my software that are not being followed.  However,
since I do not claim to know anything about German laws, I don't know
whether what they are doing is considered legal there. In my opinion
it is dishonest and lazy that they aren't willing to take the time to
even follow the wishes of the author of the programs.

	If I want to "disable one of the prime advantages for using
the shareware distribution channel" that's my problem.

: CD-ROM is quickly becoming the prefered method for publishing/distributing
: software, if it hasn't already become the standard.

	So what?

: A shareware author who doesn't want his/her work distributed using this
: medium is going to limit the acceptance of their work, and as a result
: registrations will be limited.

	Like I said before.  That is the author's problem.   It
doesn't give you the right to do what you damn please with his/her software.

: In the old days, shareware authors used to plaster messages all over the
: opening screens saying in effect "COPY THIS PROGRAM... AND GIVE IT TO A
: FRIEND!"

	There is no point here.  I want people to copy my program too.
I want people to FREELY copy my program.   I do NOT want people to
sell my program.

: If the shareware marketing philosophy of freely redistributing software 
: programs makes you nervous, then perhaps you should sell your software
: using the normal software publisher / retail channel.

	I have no problem with shareware.  I have problems with people
who don't read the documentation that I include with my software and
respect the restrictions that are written in them.

: - Glenn

[Note: in this article when I refer to rights it is in reference to
laws in the United States unless otherwise specified.  Other places may vary.]

--
rwifall@nmsu.edu
Program on a computer you like and keep the results to yourself.  Then
you don't have to put up with any crap from the "community".