Re: Copyrights..... enforced, unenforced, and in between.

[pfg@cs.rmit.edu.au (Paul Francis Gilbert)]

dwildstr@mit.edu (David J Wildstrom) writes:

>Not everything's so black and white of course. As conversational grist, what
>would you all think of:
>	1) software not currently sold, but still owned by extant companies,
>		who have not made any statement on it.
>		(e.g. Infocom's Shogun & HHG, Appleworks (?))

Just a note: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's copyright has returned
to Douglas Adams, who co/wrote the game based on his radio/book/film series
of the same name. He plans to actively sell it with his next game project
after ST (which has just come out). The copyright on Shogun has returned to
it's original owner, and I'm not sure who that is or their plans for it.
So they should still be considerd "current" as well.

As for Appleworks, that's a more iffy question since I don't know how far
the modern Appleworks has progressed from it's old Apple // version. If they
are significantly different I don't see any problem with providing the
old version. It's only if the old version "significantly impacts on the
sales of a new version" that I agree that it shouldn't be provided.

>	2) software sold on other systems still.
>		(some MECC stuff, I think, and certainly some SSI games)

That's a bit iffy, but if they're the same game it sort of proves that
the game itself is still a seller, so shouldn't be provided on a "historical"
archive.

>	3) software not currently sold owned by companies which have
>		been bought. (not too sure about examples, but a lot of
>		stuff seems to slip through the cracks this way)

I think this is fair, and probably encompasses the majority of programs on
Asimov.

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--
Paul Gilbert           | pfg@yallara.cs.rmit.edu.au (The DreamMaster)
Bach App Sci, Bach Eng | The opinions expressed are my own, all my own, and
Year 5, RMIT Melbourne | as such will contain no references to small furry
Australia	       | creatures from Alpha Centauri.