Re: trading policy for IIe

[CUTjblakeney@sympatico.ca (Jeff Blakeney)]

On Sun, 09 Jun 2002 07:42:51 GMT, "Hellfire" <nospam@dontwantit.net>
wrote:

>If everyone was to vehemantly honor old copyright restrictions that nobody
>really cares about anymore, the A2 would already be a dead platform. There
>are a few people out there developing hardware/software for the A2, and it
>is NOT COOL to give away software that is someone else's livelihood, but
>everything else out there should be free to all. Yes, I am violating a
>copyright by giving away copies of my old floppies. Yes, I do defend it
>because I want other people to enjoy the A2 as it once was, long ago. I
>can't really say to someone, "Look, you'll have to call up Infocom and order
>your own copy. This one is mine!" We users are the ONLY PEOPLE that did not
>throw our disks in the landfills long ago.

The problem with this is, if you are giving away copies of Wizardry,
why would anyone pay for Silvern Castle?  This is just an example, as
Silvern Castle is now freeware because Jeff Fink got so few people to
actually pay the shareware fee but it does illustrate my point.

Just in case my point isn't clear enough, here's another example:  Why
would anyone buy a new word processor, database or spreadsheet program
if they can simply download AppleWorks or any of a huge pile of other
programs that do the same thing?  Because people are gaining access to
illegal copies of older software, there is no need for them to seek
out legal software, request certain types of software be developed or
purchase any new software that might exist.

And people wonder why Apple II software development has slowed down so
much.  :-)

>If it wasn't for us, nobody would
>ever be able to pick up a ][e somewhere and say, "Hey, I had one of these as
>a kid! I think I'll try using one again." because there would be no software
>out there anywhere to make the machine functional again.

There are thousands of software titles that are legally available out
there including some that has been reclassified from its former
commercial status.  People seem to totally forget about all the public
domain, freeware, shareware, reclassified and still commercially
available titles that are all legally available, no to mention used
copies that are available from comp.sys.apple2.marketplace, eBay,
local thrift shops and other places.

That is a far cry from "no software out there anywhere".

>Remember,
>information just wants to be free :)

Information <> software.

>APPLE ][ FOREVER!

That's what I'm aiming for.

-- 
 Jeff Blakeney - Dean of the Apple II University in the
                 Apple II Community on Syndicomm.com
 CUT the obvious from my address if you want to e-mail me