Path: utzoo!utgpu!cunews!cognos!garym From: garym@cognos.uucp@uunet.uu.net (Gary Murphy) Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer Subject: Re: Austin Code Works Message-ID: Date: 17 Apr 91 16:07:36 GMT References: <28057@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU> Sender: garym@cognos.UUCP Organization: Cognos Inc., Ottawa, Canada Lines: 114 In-reply-to: jdb@reef.cis.ufl.edu's message of 16 Apr 91 21:58:01 GMT BOYCOTT AUSTIN CODE WORKS! This organization is distributing other people's works WITHOUT PERMISSION and often even blatently so! As a programmer who has produced shareware, this alone is enough reason to avoid this organization, but there is more: Their prices are very high and the software out of date. If you can read this message, everything you can get from ACW can be had FOR FREE via ftp. Even if you have no direct ftp, you can get files from most sites through the princeton pucc list-server. Just before the flames start, let me give you an example: The following letter from Alan Paeth describes the tribulations of an author trying to keep his software free. The letter ends with a list of sites carrying Alan's SAO starchart data, which I have included both for completeness, and to give an idea of the number of FREE sites out there. --------------------------------cut here-------------------------------- From: awpaeth@watcgl.waterloo.edu (Alan Wm Paeth) Newsgroups: sci.astro Subject: SAO/StarChart Rip-off Warning! Date: 6 Aug 90 16:54:05 GMT Distribution: sci Organization: Computer Graphics Laboratory, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada A group calling itself ``Austin Code Works'' has been illegally peddling copies of the SAO dataset which I originally reduced and annouced to this group (with cross-posting to net.sources.unix) in late '88 for use with the StarChart suite. I learned of this on Friday when a fellow in Maine called asking for assistance and information on the code and related ``StarChart'' format. It seems the ``Code Works'' is unwilling to support the dataset and ``kindly'' left my name in as the referral in support of their profiteering! As mentioned in the first paragraph of the SAO distribution (*), that data is the property of the Smithsonian Astronomical Observatory and is redistributed for private and scientific NON-PROFIT use only; I specifically arranged for this with NASA's World Data Center in Greenbelt, MD by written correspondence. Likewise, the home-grown unpacking software which accompanies the distribution has my copyright notice prominently affixed. Needless to say, I'm mad as H--- about being ripped off. The best way to drive these clowns out of business is to to make available generous redistributions of this database available WITH ALL DISCLAIMERS AFFIXED, thus removing any black market. While on the subject, the companion StarChart software which I created and posted to this group likewise has copyright notices affixed. The most recent version (almost entirely the work Craig Counterman, the authorized developer) bears similar copyrights -- we have been careful in the wording and placement of such notices on all our software. Tell a friend. /Alan Paeth Computer Graphics Laboratory University of Waterloo ------------ (*) FTP copies of the SAO reduction (in StarChart format) may be obtained during off-peak hours from: # # THE CANONICAL archive for comp.sources.unix # ftp uunet.uu.net anonymous yourname@youraddress.etc cd comp.sources.unix/volume16/sao mget * quit # # Secondary archive at Purdue # note: Here the SAO is in its original v16i090.Z through v16i140.Z wrappers # j.cc.purdue.edu anonymous yourname@youraddress.etc cd comp.sources.unix/volume16 mget v16i09*.Z mget v16i10*.Z mget v16i11*.Z mget v16i12*.Z mget v16i13*.Z mget v16i140.Z quit # # Public binaries site at Washington U, St. Louis [128.252.135.4] # note: a MAIL server connection is rumored to exist # ftp wuarchive.wustl.edu anonymous yourname@youraddress.etc cd usenet/comp.sources.unix/volume16/sao mget * quit # # Privately maintained, courtesy of Karl Kleinpaste # ftp cheops.cis.ohio-state.edu anonymous yourname@youraddress.etc cd pub/comp.sources.unix/Volume16/sao mget * quit --------------------------------cut here-------------------------------- -- o| Gary Murphy |o |------------------------------------------------------------------------| o| uunet!mitel!cunews!cognos!garym garym%cognos.uucp@ccs.carlton.ca |o | Cognos Inc. P.O. Box 9707 Ottawa K1G 3N3 (613) 738-1338 x5537 | o| "There are many things which do not concern the process" - Joan of Arc |o