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Re: now on cco.caltech.edu and on c.b.a2 later today or tomorrow...
irsman@iastate.edu (Ian Schmidt) writes:
>In article <1pm8j5INNm79@gap.caltech.edu> dmz@cco.caltech.edu (Daniel Zimmerman) writes:
>>
>>This may be controversial, but I have removed all three of these disk archives
>>from the cco.caltech.edu archive site. Here are my reasons:
>>
>>1. HD Install contains copyrighted code. It is not a set of patches for program
>>files, but rather a set of -patched- program files. I do not know if one could
>>run the programs without previously owning copies of them, but regardless,
>>some of the code in the patched files is copyrighted and is thus not suitable
>>for distribution on the CCO archive site.
>None of the code given in HD Install includes any data files whatsoever. Its
>no different than the patched Space Ace avalible on America Online for example.
I realize that, perhaps, the files in question are "legal" (it's a very grey
area)... These particular archives also contained some of the Apple IIGS System
Software, though, which is a definite no-no... I prefer to err on the safe
side, however... :)
>>2. Bille Art contains some questionable pictures in locations without any kind
>>of warnings (ie: the Panic! button)... I will consider putting it on the site
>Its not really an FTP admin's job to be our moral guardian. I really doubt
>that any ftp user's first exposure (pun intended) to nude women would be via
>Bille Art. Are you also going to remove for example the FTA XMAS Demo because
>if you enter FAG at the main menu it displays a homoerotic animation? I'll
>say it now: no, because the rest of the program is a great milestone in the
>IIgs. I don't think your judgement of the quality of something is enough to
>warrant its removal; I consider a high percentage of the files on cco to be of
>'pathetic' quality.
I'm not attempting to be your "moral guardian", I am merely following the
policies of my school when it comes to the content of the public access files
on our computer systems. They're the prudes, not me. I would have left it up
otherwise. The FTA demo is a totally different story, since that is an "easter
egg" and you clearly have to be looking for it to get to it - in addition, it
is only a cartoon.
>BTW, what was your hang-up with the GS<>IRC Demo disk? It was deleted like
>3 times before it finally got moved to demos/ (thanks to Richard Wifall for his
>persistance :)
I had no problem whatsoever with the GS<>IRC demo disk.... The only archives
I have deleted, since I have been administrating, are archives which either
don't unpack, violate copyright law, or violate Caltech's policies on public
access stuff... If I remember correctly, the GS<>IRC demo was originally
in the "doesn't unpack" catagory, until about the 3rd time it was uploaded.
>>for hard drives, or write a program to do so, that's fine, and I'll let that
>>stay. But the Dungeon Master files, for instance, on the HD Install Disk 1
>>were over five HUNDRED ProDOS Blocks long! That much program code is not
>>necessary for deprotection/HD installation under any circumstances.
>Maybe so, but it does make it much simpler for your average non-technologically
>oriented user to deprotect something if all they need to do is drag a new file
>in the Finder. Detailed patch instructions are usually quite technical and
>require a great deal of skill. As I mentioned above, none of the files on HD
>Install will allow you to have a working copy of a game.
I can see your point, that it would make it simpler for people to deprotect
their games. Just so that you understand my side, I have to follow certain
policies with what I allow to remain on the ftp site. The code included with
the HD Install disks is definitely a "borderline"-type case, and in that
sort of case I prefer to stay on the "legal" side of the border - if it turned
out that it was illegal to distribute these files, Caltech could get in a
hefty bit of trouble (as could I).
>--
> Ian Schmidt - Two Meg Software: irsman@{iastate.edu | aol.com}
>"I will choose a path that's | Author of AudioZap, MODZap, and more.
> clear: I will choose free will" | Co-author of SoundConvert and DeskTracker.
> - N. Peart, 1980 | Coder and Musician for the GS<>IRC.
As always, anyone with -any- comments, positive or negative, please send them
to me in e-mail...
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Daniel Zimmerman - TFF Enterprises Caltech Apple II Archive Admin
MSC #1023, California Institute of Technology Internet: dmz@cco.caltech.edu
Pasadena, California 91126-0001 USA AOL: Surak TFF
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daniel Zimmerman - TFF Enterprises Caltech Apple II Archive Admin
MSC #1023, California Institute of Technology Internet: dmz@cco.caltech.edu
Pasadena, California 91126-0001 USA AOL: Surak TFF