Re: A time for action...

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Roy and/or Janet Miller wrote:
> 
 ....
> 
> What we care about is that newbies know that some sites have copyrighted
> software available for download, and that they be made aware of that fact.
> After that, what they do is really their own business isn't it?

     Virtually every piece of software on every site (except that in the
public domain) is copyrighted. Informing someone that software on a site is
"copyrighted" merely states the obvious and would be a silly activity.

     The truth is that you invent laws which do not exist and seek to convince
new users that they are engaging in illegal actions. 


> We also care to see copyrighted software made into freeware, so anyone
> can use these software works of art.

     In that case, you should be especially grateful to Tom Turley, since he's
one of the few persons getting anything done with reclassifying software.


> Further, a few weeks ago, a legal argument was made, citing case law, as
> to how, if you own a machine, using the firmware isn't a violation of
> copyright law. Ruby knows about and has ignored that post - it undermines
> his wish to paint "vogons" as hypocrites.
 ....

     Missed that posting. Evidently, it was by someone whose messages
generally get ignored due to a long history of posting garbage (which inclines
one to suspect that the citing you mention is just more of the same).

     If you actually believe that the supposed instance of case law supports
your position, you are welcome to post it along with a link which will permit
validating its authenticity.

     Until then, there is no reason to believe that ownership of a machine
gives one the right to transfer the ROM code for use on another, entirely
different computer.

     Nor do we have any reason to believe that sending users to a site you say
is a "pirate site" to download the ROM code makes sense, _unless_ the
expectation is that many (if not most) of your users do not own a IIgs and the
belief is that offering the ROM code for download is a copyright violation.

     In short, we see obvious double-dealing and hypocrisy.



Rubywand