Commercial software of dead companies

[Jim.Low@logicbbs.org]

Is there a comprehensive list of Apple II software that is still
commercial and illegal to copy?  Also, where such software is still
commercial, who has the rights to it and where and how it may be
obtained?  I know many old favourite commercial programs have been
released to the public, so one can't go buy the copyright notice any
more.
 
This raises some questions:  Under what circumstances can commercial
software (specifically Apple II) be copied when it appears to be
impossible to find the current copyright holder?
 
In my freelance computer consuting, I often help people with Apple
IIs.  There have been cases where the original program disks have gone
bad.  "Why didn't they have backups?" you may ask.  Because many of
the early programs were copy protected.  Oh, yes, Copy II Plus could
make backups of many -- but most people were using their computers as
tools and not thinking utilities.  Besides, the manufacturer kindly
provided a backup (also not readable when broken out of the
shrink-wrap after 15 years), and gave a phone number and address for
replacement (phone disconnected and letter "returned to sender").
 
I've had people come to me with damaged VisiCalc, PFS, etc. disks who
continued to use them in small businesses where they meet the needs.
How does one buy a new VisiCalc disk (DOS 3.3) these days?  I don't
know if it's legal, but I felt no guilt over what I did:  He gave me
his ORIGINAL but damaged VisiCalc disk.  I used my Copy II Plus to
copy from another VisiCalc disk.  I gave it to him and charged
nothing--not even for my time.  Technically, I may have done something
illegal, but untill someone tells me where one may buy a legal
replacement VisiCalc for a damaged original, I'll continue to do it
this way.
 
- Jim Low
  Jim.Low@logicbbs.org