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From: phil@eecs.nwu.edu (William LeFebvre)
Newsgroups: alt.sys.sun,comp.org.sug
Subject: Re: Sun User's Group & COPS
Keywords: $$
Message-ID: <1991May15.145403.22000@casbah.acns.nwu.edu>
Date: 15 May 91 14:54:03 GMT
References: <25429@as0c.sei.cmu.edu> <1991May14.234340.15041@menudo.uh.edu>
Sender: news@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Mr. News)
Reply-To: phil@eecs.nwu.edu (William LeFebvre)
Organization: Northwestern University
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Dislcaimer:  this is not an official statement by the Sun User Group.
This is only the informed comments of one of the board members.

In article <1991May14.234340.15041@menudo.uh.edu>, jet@karazm.math.uh.edu (J Eric Townsend) writes:
|> The target audience of the SUG CD-ROM, IMHO, is sites who don't
|> have Internet/Alternet connections but who want to be able to
|> get all sorts of neat goodies.

The target audience also includes those sites that, although they may
even have an Internet connection, lack the expertise to find, obtain,
configure, compile, and install the software on their own.  Binaries
are being provided on the CD to provide "plug-n-play" functionality for
those that need it.  Source is also provided, of course.

|> I don't believe it is the intention of SUG to in any way rip off the
|> sun-owning public by overpricing "free" software.

Besides, the software is still available "free" for those who are
ambitious enough to find it.  We are providing a "value-added" service,
if you will.

|>Dan Farmer writes:
|> > Heck, they could have probably just slapped my stuff on the CD and 
|> >I'd have never said a word, since cops is free anyway, but since they 
|> >asked me to sign a legal disclaimer, now I'm interested in this.

Mr. Farmer may not have said a word, but others who write software may
object to us repackaging and "reselling" it without their consent.  We
are protecting ourselves from any unnecessary legal liability where
copyright laws are concerned.  If Dan does not want to have his software
on the CD that is his option.  We won't think any less of him (I actually
think very highly of him, as he probably already knows).

		William LeFebvre
		Computing Facilities Manager and Analyst
		Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
		Northwestern University
		<phil@eecs.nwu.edu>