Subject: Re: P...
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
From: stevementzer@earthlink.net (Steven W. Mentzer)
Organization: Organization, What's That???
X-Newsreader: WinVN 0.99.7
References: <199912041536.KAA01551@cotse.com> 
<38495863.ED06384E@swbell.net> 
<38496312.6D94E36@cyberhighway.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset=US-ASCII
Lines: 57
Message-ID: <ukf24.259$Kc5.19482@typhoon-sf.snfc21.pbi.net>
Date: Sat, 04 Dec 1999 21:03:22 GMT
NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.79.180.59
X-Complaints-To: abuse@pacbell.net
NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 04 Dec 1999 13:03:22 PST



>
>So, I guess the main crux of all this rambling would be to use your best
>judgement to ensure you are not infringing on the rights of others.
>This may cause you to be active to ensure that a copy of something you
>are using is, in the authors mind, "okay" to use.  Also, if your
>judgment is suspect then make sure to ask someone whom you believe to be
>of sound ethics.
>


Best judgement? Huh?

In the eyes of many zealots around here, our judgement is always suspect. I 
would NEVER pirate commercially available titles such as "ORCA", "Appleworks" 
or "GBBS". In my eyes, that is good judgement.

But I will happily "pirate" titles like "Bards Tale" for the IIe. Why? Is it 
because I am a liar or a thief. No.

It is because you cannot purchase the title ANYWHERE (except for jerks who want  
to auction them off for more than the original price... see the jerk who 
tried to sell a zipGS chip for $300+ dollars).

I would happily send email to the electronic arts legal department stating 
something like this..

    "Hi, you used to distribute a game called 'Bards Tale' for the Apple IIe.         
    I dont own the game, and cannot buy it anymore. Is it ok if I make a copy     
    of it and use it?"

Gee, lets get real. What is the response from EA going to be? I imagine that 
their canned response would sound something like this..

   "Copyright infringement is a serious crime, and we will take no part in     
   supporting or endorsing the actions of peope who wish to make illegal     
   copies of software that we used to produce...... yada yada yada"

So I guess I cannot use the game in the eyes of the zealots.

It is a sad catch-22. I am sure if the people in charge really had a legal say 
in the matter, they wouldn't give a shit about who makes a copy of Bards Tale, 
Silpheed and many others.

But the legal departments have to protect the companies interests at all times, 
and allowing a group of people to copy and distribute copyrighted titles with 
permission from EA might set a bad precedent, and confuse the meaning of the 
copyright. And to make the who thing legal would require EA to use the 
company's legal resources, which costs $$$$. So, they cast a blind eye, dont 
lose a dollar and everyone is happy (except for the zealots).

The bottom line is simple: If you can buy the software, do so. If you cannot, 
download it... You aren't hurting anyone...

smentzer@pacbell.net