Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!xanth!xanth.cs.odu.edu!tadguy From: tadguy@cs.odu.edu (Tad Guy) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: Tetris Clones Message-ID: Date: 6 May 90 19:17:13 GMT References: <279@estinc.UUCP> <1125@metaphor.Metaphor.COM> <280@estinc.UUCP> Sender: news@cs.odu.edu Organization: Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA Lines: 22 In-reply-to: fnf@estinc.UUCP's message of 4 May 90 02:01:38 GMT In article <280@estinc.UUCP> fnf@estinc.UUCP (Fred Fish) writes: > It appears at this point that I WILL have to issue a recall of these > disks. ...Spectrum Holobyte has reviewed the disks I sent them and > rendered a verbal opinion that all of them infringe on their Tetris > product. They claim to have absolute rights on the look and feel of > their game, and that their contract with the Russian inventor > requires that they vigorously pursue any infringers. I was under the impression that if something is free (ie, no profit) then the creator/distributor of the free code cannot be threatened like this... Am I wrong here? What's to keep people who already have those disks from distributing the tetris clones some other way (like comp.binaries.amiga or via BBSs)? In fact, two tetris clones have already appeared in comp.binaries.amiga; what of them? I'm offended not by Fred's actions, but by the mentality of SH thinking they can prevent people from making/distributing free software... ...tad