Re: Asimov is a _PIRATE_ site. Face the Facts

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

Tom Zuchowski <cd003508@interramp.com> wrote:
>rder@pro-palmtree.cts.com (Richard Der) wrote:
>>To be able to save out of print software that will otherwise languish
>>and disappear is an good thing. The way Asimov tries to do this
>>(pirating) is bad. They should try to contact the copyright holders.
>
>Well...let me give you a little history on Genie-A2's "Lost Classics"
>project, which has been doing exactly that for several years now.
>
>In many cases, the person contacted at the publisher says that they do
>not now, nor have they ever, published any software for the Apple II.
>In those cases where they could be convinced that, yes, they DID publish
>such titles at one time, in almost every case they have no records or in
>other ways have no idea who presently holds the copyright.  In the
>majority of those cases where both the publisher and the author could
>be contacted, neither had any idea who held the copyright, and neither
>would commit themselves to granting permission for copyright release
>because they didn't know if they had the authority.
>
>In other words, we are totally screwed in the case of about 98% of all
>the out-of-print Apple II titles floating around.
 
Well, here is a possible plan:
 
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.
        1) If they request that it be taken off, it should be.
        2) 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.
        3) If the publisher/author grants formal rights, that should
           be made known too.
 
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.
 
A hundred or so email messages is not that big of an effort,
especially since those old programs are mainly from several
publishers.
 
They wouldn't have to go through the effort of the "Lost Classics"
since they are not a for profit online service. Like you said:
 
  "It's a pretty safe bet that no one will come after them, when
   nobody will admit to holding the copyright in the first place."
 
This software in which the copyright holders can't be determined can
be placed into category "2" of the above plan. The very attempt to
make contact with the copyright holders, however, would make them
more legit. Think about it, how many times have users stumbled into
this newsgroup and said, "I found a public domain program, BattleZone,
at Asimov..."? The reformed Asimov's notices world make it clear
that such software is NOT PD.
 
>Where I =DO= have a problem with Asimov is where it has current
>software titles such as ProSel.  That is blatant pirating and IMHO
>should probably be prosecuted.
>
>TomZ
 
The reformed Asimov would carry no current software titles and
cease all pirating activities such as effacing copyright notices
and credits.


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