Re: Asimov is *still* pirated material, supporters are liars

[petscii@techie.com]

In article <Zm8%.412$E6.1714856@ptah.visi.com>#1/1,
  nathan@visi.com (Nathan Mates) wrote:
>

>
>    Modifying distribution policies withOUT the permission of the
> author is illegal and wrong, and that's precisely what you're bending
> over backwads trying to explain away. Sorry, but you're the one lying
> your head off trying to cover up your support for a blatantly wrong

Question...

What if you simply *can't* get ahold of the author? I would imagine that "big"
companies such as Sierra, Origin, etc. simply do not have any records
regarding their apple releases... and many companies that produced software
for Apple (and other machines) have simply vanished! For some people who are
legitamte owners of software, Asimov may be the only recourse to replace their
damaged or lost original disks -- I know the commodore equivelent, (arnold)
has saved my behind many times!

Anyway, I agree that all attempts should be made to contact the original
authors of copyrighted Apple II software to gain permission to distribute it -
and I will do exactly that before I distribute Gelfling adventure (Sierra
Online) and see what they have to say about me posting their program on my
website. Quite frankly, I would be surprised to see any objection from them,
but, of course, I would respect their wishes should they deny me permission.

What do you think of all this? I would like to see a "contact sheet" for
people who wrote programs for Apple - and who to contact for information /
permission for various games/programs. I, of course, don't advocate putting
"active" programs out on the internet - that is - programs that are still sold
should not be posted to the 'net, but if a program that was written back in
1981, and the company has long since been disbanded and out of business, then
why not make it available?

Just my thoughts. What do you think?
--Rick


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