Re: Mecc titles

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

David Phillips writes ...
> 
> On 9/25/99 9:38 AM, cornelio wrote:
> 
> >In article <37EAC3E2.62E44ED0@swbell.net>, rubywand@swbell.net wrote:
> >
> >>Penman writes ...
> >>>
> >>> Most MECC titles for the Apple II are still being sold, and are
> >>> copyrighted material (I happen to have a MECC catalog at work)/
> >
> >
> >A teacher has contacted me via email & she is looking for information on
> >all MECC titles along w/ grade suitability etc. Does MECC have this on a
> >website somewhere. Do they still offer a catalog, or is the one you
> >mention something from a few years back? Do you have current address? I
> >would like to help this teacher out.
> >
> >thanks
> 
> I have teachers in our club looking for just such software as you have
> memtioned I have been searching high and low for someone to sell them some
> programs and have been unsuccessfull in locating someone or some company,
> please send me the URL address.
 ....
> The schools
> here in Australia are very stringent about the copyright ... they are even
> reluctant to use originals donated to them because they are unable to
> transfer the licence because they are unable to locate the company that sold
> the original licence.
> 
> When you think of the number of licenses sold and then think of the number
> still being used, there is a lot of licences not being used.
 ....

     The last time I discussed this problem with a teacher, MECC reps were
(according to the teacher) suggesting that you make copies 'if you can'.

     The Learning Company appears to own the rights to MECC titles; but, if you
check The Learning Company's web page you will find nearly zero MECC
availability or support.

     It looks like the Tiger Learning Computer was the last chance for the old
MECC Apple II titles to be commercially viable. Now that the Tiger has flopped,
The Learning Company pretty much owns an albatross which continues to attact
ill will from teachers on a daily basis.

     Supposedly, The Learning Company did once say that it does not want the
titles to be available on A2 archives. This plus the usual nonsense "piracy"
charges which crop up whenever _any_ out of print software is made available,
makes it seem unlikely that an A2 archive will offer the old Apple II MECC
titles for downloading any time soon.

     My suggestion is that you and your associates contact The Learning Company
and request that the old titles be released into the public domain. Once this
happens, the titles will appear on archives along with the directions, hints
for use, etc. which normally get added by users.

     In the mean time, you may want to check out the Apple II educational
titles which are available on Asimov and other archives. (For links, go to
http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/A2FAQs4MAJORSITES.html .)




Rubywand