Regarding Asmiov (was: GS Icon file Verifier released)

[jefbla@bconnex.net (Jeff Blakeney)]

rder@pro-palmtree.cts.com (Richard Der) wrote:

>There is one little problem with this: they have AppleWorks. It wouldn't
>be so bad if they only had out of print software. Then, at least, you
>could make an argument of intent/spirit of the law vs. the letter of
>the law.

Others have already pointed out that it is version 2 and is of limited
use so I won't comment further.

>Even with the out of print software, it would make what they are doing
>more legit if they would email to the publishers informing them what
>they are going to do. This would notify the copyright holders so
>that they can respond if they wish. If they request that it be taken
>off, it should be. If they don't reply, then Asimov should attach a
>note to the archive saying that they tried to contact the copyright
>holder but have not yet recieved a reply. If the publisher/author
>grants formal rights, that should be made known too.

Unfortunately, almost all of those publishers have gone belly up and
the copyrights have reverted to other people.  The thought of trying
to track down all the individual copyright holders is, in my mind, an
incredibly daunting task.  It would end up being a little more than a
couple hundred e-mails as you mentioned later in your post.

>The place has a "lets steal software" atmosphere. Sector editing
>copyright messages and all that. They should abandon this practice
>and post at the very beginning that they are trying to save out
>of print software and that they try to contact the publishers
>whenever possible.

My big argument for embracing the asimov site is that most of the old
software was copy protected.  I have a number of original disks that I
have never been able to get around the copy protection on and
therefore have no back ups.  With the asimov site I can download a
back up image that has had the copy protection removed and I can also
use that image with an emulator as well.  Making images of copy
protected disks either doesn't work or creates a disk image that is
twice the size of a normal disk image.  This is why you see all those
added messages to title screens and such.

This is also helpful if your original disk has died.  I have two games
(Test Drive and Infiltrator) that have died on me and I'm hoping to
download images of those programs so that I can regain those games.
[Now if only I could do the same thing with my copy of the IIgs
program the Art and Film Director.  My Art Director disk died a few
years back.  :( ]

>A hundred or so email messages is not that big of an effort,
>especially since those old programs are mainly from several
>publishers.
>
>They needn't go through the lengths that Lost Classics did, but
>they should at least send a simple email notification.

See above.