Re: Building An Apple ][ Software Archive

[pausch@saafNOSPAM.se (Paul Schlyter)]

In article <39CB007B.78C4ED92@dcnet2000.com>,
Phoenyx  <quazar@dcnet2000.com> wrote:
 
> Paul Schlyter wrote:
>>
> <snip>
>>
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>> freeware n.  Free software, often written by enthusiasts and
>> distributed by users' groups, or via email, local nulletin boards,
>> USENET, or other electronic media.
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 
>> Note the absence of any requirement that freeware should be
>> copyrighted.  Thus any piece of software can easily be both PD and
>> freeware.  In particular, being PD implies also being freeware.
>> 
>> If you want to distinguish that freeware which is copyrighted, you
>> must use the term "copyrighted freeware".  If you don't, expect a
>> large part of your audience to interpret "freeware" as "PD".
> 
> For many, the distinction is generally GPL or LGPL for the majority of the
> freeware in common use today. Primarily because the term freeware seems
> to cause so much confusion.
 
Admittedly the definition of "freeware" is somewhat fuzzy....
 
> In the case of reclassified Apple2 software, the term freeware has caused
> quite a bit of consternation. For example, the Beagle Bros releases. Many
> consider them as freeware, which implies free use for any purpose.
 
No it does not.  Freeware merely implies free personal use.  In
particular it does not imply free commercial use or right to sell it
as if it was your own work -- to be able to do that legally, you must
ensure it's not merely freeware but also PD.
 
> As I understand them, they are indeed copyrighted freeware, which still implies
> free use but the programmer/user can not make claims on the programs being
> their own and must follow any requirements required by the particular
> freeware license.
 
That's a common requirement of much non-PD freeware.
 
> Which brings up another point. In spite of the wealth of old software, I
> would still like to see a GPL/LGPL system for new programs. Hopefully, we
> can start some new and even more useful programs for our II's and in the
> process, share some of the programming knowledge amongst the newer users.
 
With that I fully agree.
 
-- 
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Paul Schlyter,  Swedish Amateur Astronomer's Society (SAAF)
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