Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!torsqnt!tmsoft!becker!bdb
From: bdb@becker.UUCP (Bruce Becker)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Tetris Clones
Message-ID: <9694@becker.UUCP>
Date: 9 May 90 18:08:15 GMT
References: <279@estinc.UUCP> <1125@metaphor.Metaphor.COM> <280@estinc.UUCP> <TADGUY.90May6151713@aelle.cs.odu.edu>
Reply-To: bdb@becker.UUCP (Bruce Becker)
Organization: G. T. S., Toronto, Ontario
Lines: 60

In article <TADGUY.90May6151713@aelle.cs.odu.edu> tadguy@cs.odu.edu (Tad Guy) writes:
|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...

	Sadly, there's a difference between theory
	and practice that impinges in Fred's operation.

	If Spectrum Holobyte threatens to sue, they have
	a strong weapon - even if the suit has no basis
	in law, the time and money required to defend
	oneself is so relatively large that justice
	becomes theoretical; one must weigh the odds
	regardless of one's supposed rights.

	I think what Spectrum Holobyte has done is
	quite wrong - I'm going to suggest that a *lot*
	of pressure be put on them to reconsider their
	action. "Look and feel" issues are essentially
	bogus; the greed involved goes way beyond the
	natural right they have to protect their product.

	In addition, by threatening Fred Fish, I feel
	they are acting contrary to the spirit of the
	larger part of the Amiga Software community.

	I think they need to be told these things by
	those who agree; if necessary, we need to threaten
	a boycott of their products. I also urge people
	not to destroy copies of the Fish disks in
	question - don't ask Fred to supply them any more
	until this is resolved - but consider making them
	available to each other, as required.

	I'm sure other Amiga friends will have more to say
	on this subject, so I'll sign off for the moment...

Cheers,
-- 
  ,u,	 Bruce Becker	Toronto, Ontario
a /i/	 Internet: bdb@becker.UUCP, bruce@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu
 `\o\-e	 UUCP: ...!uunet!mnetor!becker!bdb
 _< /_	 "I still have my phil-os-o-phy" - Meredith Monk