Legal Copies of Software (Was: "What are you running DOS on?")
- From: ak621@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Richard Bonner)
- Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 11:45:53 +0000 (UTC)
straydog wrote:
> I'd like to expand on this problem of finding "legal" copies. While I
> generally do not wish to contribute to piracy my
> understanding it that the software police (the BSA is one, and there is
> another one and they are fanatical about catching companies with pirated
> copies, and operators who violate copyright), they seem to be not
> interested in home users. Also, if you are using "legacy" software (i.e. I
> take that to mean 'not current' or old), they are also not very interested
> in this either.
*** That seems to be the case. Some of this old software was so well
written that it still provides a valuable purpose today. My complaint is
that manufacturers refuse to help with answers to questions even though
I have legal, registered copies. Their answer is to upgrade even thouyh
they don't have a current version for my operating system. I, and others,
supported these companies when we bought the software and we have been
abandoned. )-:
> As a separate issue, finding legal copies should be possible if people
> simply made posts on this newsgroup offering a willingness to buy a legal
> copy
*** I have had little trouble finding legal copies of major software
from Lotus, AccPac, WordPerfect, Ashton-Tate and so on. However, I have
many friends in the computer business.
> As a still another separate issue, for shareware I have run into the
> situation where my attempt to "register" (meaning along with paying money)
> fails. I can send email or correspondence that does not get answered.
*** Tell me about it. They all seem to have jumped on the Microsoft
bandwagon of "ignore past customers".
> Sometimes I send the money and the check does get deposited and I get,
> in return, no evidence of registration or nothing.
*** I assume you mean "anything". (A double negative makes a positive.)
I have not run into this because I don't send money until I have had a
return contact from an author or manufacturer.
> Another situation is when the original company goes out of business
> completely and it is above and beyond the call of duty to chase down who
> might have the rights.
*** That is particularly annoying, especially if the software has "nag"
screens or delays.
> And, lastly, it is a big sin in my mind that a company, that has eitehr
> taken the product off the market or gone out of business, can keep a
> product out of the hands of anyone who wants it by claiming copyright or
> licensing violations. It would seem to be a good goal for some lawyer
> group to get some class action that would create some kind of
> clearinghouse where copies of prior products could be sold.
*** This is a tough call because those companies do own that software
and can do what they want. However, morally, they should support the
customers that supported them.
> Libraries
> already have a mechanism for this where you pay a reasonable royalty for a
> legal copy of a book or article. There should also be a provision under
> the "fair-use" portion of the copyright law when a product is so difficult
> to obtain.
*** Sure, but then how would those companies be able to force us to
upgrade? (-:
Richard Bonner
http://www.chebucto.ca/~ak621/DOS/
.
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