Re: piracy, Asimov, you, and me

[rder@pro-palmtree.cts.com (Richard Der)]

wbaguhn@nyx10.cs.du.edu (Will Baguhn) wrote:
>If they are doing something about it, the programs would be
>disappearing from Asimov slowly.  If they cared and knew, they'd be
>either doing something about it or they would have decided to let it
>slide, becuase it wasn't that important anyway.
 
Unfortunately, legal action takes money and we all know that those
that still develop for the Apple II are no Micro$ofts. This does not
mean they are not upset. They are and have said so here.
 
I just ran into a post in comp.sys.apple2.com asking someone to upload
GBBS Pro, a currently available commercial BBS program, to Asimov.
 
This is not a worthless discussion. At the very least, it will make
people realize that Asimov is doing something wrong so they won't
do something stupid like upload AppleWorks GS to the site.
 
You seem to think that Asimov is doing more good than harm. Ok, I
respect that that is your opinion. To me, however, it seems that
Asimov is taking advantage of emulators as a cover to pirate software.
True, most of the software is old, but some are still published/sold.
Naturally, since there are only 8-bit emulators and there are few
current 8-bit Apple II titles, you are going to see mostly out of
print titles. Soon, however, IIGS emulators will emerge and they
will start uploading current GS titles.
 
For Asimov to be a legit service, they have to at least try to
ask permission first. Again, I ask: how do they KNOW that the
authors don't have plans for the software? Many of us see the
good side of Asimov in its potential to be a site where old software
can be archived and made available. Some of us would just like
to see them do this legitimately.
 
This discussion should really span to comp.emulators.apple2. I
am going to try to post there, as Jeff Blakeney suggested.
A copy of the guidelines that Jeffrey Robertson posted is a good
start. [Tried to do this once w/o sucessess. There is an idiotic
"spamerjamer" that prevents big quotes on cea2. IMHO, this is a
big downfall of automoderators where they may block legitimate
discussion.]
 
 
>It may be the law, but I seriously doubt that we've all followed the
>law exactly all our lives and been perfect little angels.  Everyone
>who's whining about following the letter of the law... you've never
>driven 60 mph in a 55 mph zone when nobody was looking, have you?
>Even though it didn't really hurt anyone, it's STILL illegal.
 
It is more than the letter of the law. Some people are still
publishing/selling the software. Authors' names are being erased
from their works. How would you like to have one of your works
that you put in a closet years ago being distributed with someone
elses name on it? To me, this violates intent of law also.
 
 
>And to whoever made the analogy about stealing chairs from the
>backyard: it's more like sneaking in and sitting on the
>oh-so-comfortable chairs while you're not there.  Yes, we probably
>shouldn't sit on the chairs, but when you tell us to leave we'll
>apologize and disappear. (I'd guess that asimov would take it down,
>anyway.)
 
Tresspassing, effacing of property (scratching out the owners' names
from the chairs and writing "cracked by ____"). Asimov leaves when
you tell him to, yes, but he certainly dosn't apologize.


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