Re: Think About It

[wbaguhn@nyx10.cs.du.edu (Will Baguhn)]

In article <go17937@pro-palmtree.cts.com>,
Richard Der <rder@pro-palmtree.cts.com> wrote:
> 
>wbaguhn@nyx10.cs.du.edu (Will Baguhn) wrote:
>>It may sound like no difference unless you phrase it like this...
>>but there is a difference.  I have no problem with copying old
>>out of print software that nobody's making money on anymore,
>>but that doesn't mean I'm going to try and rob the people who
>>are currently developing for the Apple II.  That would be stupid.
> 
>The problem is that Asimov dosn't even try to contact the publisher
>or author. How can they be sure the copyright holders don't have
>plans for the software (notice the STM disc for the Mac where the
>old software became profitable again). If they tried to contact
>the publisher/author mentioned in the credits and couldn't find
>them, that would be a different story.
> 
>In your robbery analogy, Asimov sees a piece of furniture in
>someone's back yard. Right now, Asimov takes it without asking.
>If Asimov rings the doorbell and asks for permission first,
>the owner might donate it.
> 
>On the other hand, Asimov may discover that the home is deserted
>and no one cares about the furniture. In this case, Asimov may
> morally take it.
> 
>If someone takes something out of your yard because they assume
>it is useless to you, would you not get mad? Is this not robbery?
>And sometimes, as we have found out, the furniture is still being
>used (eg. Atarisoft games from Joe Kohn).
>
>
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>

I do not disagree... the Atarisoft games should be removed.  But at
the same time, we're not talking "tangible" losses unless someone is
producing the disks and trying to sell them while someone else is
giving away copies for free.

As near as I can tell, it's only "wrong" on a technicality.

More to the point: is "Stop the Madness!" going to cause the old
software companies to re-release their old software for sale, in a
new format so that it's more compatible?

-- 
                                      --- Rev. SPQR (wbaguhn@nyx.net)