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From: Bob.Nordling@f13.n396.z1.fidonet.org (Bob Nordling)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: My problem with Educorp
Message-ID: <674815973.0@macgate.fidonet>
Date: 20 May 91 12:15:00 GMT
Sender: Uucp@p0.f22.n282.z1.fidonet.org
Lines: 61

* In a message originally to All, Mike Pflueger said:
>I also pressed him on the fact that not only are they profiting
>from MY
>work without my permission AND WITHOUT EVEN THE COURTESY TO
>NOTIFY ME
>(I noticed my programs in one of their catalogs in
>Mac<World|User>).  He
>said that they distribute too many programs to contact every
>author.  HA!
  
Mike. Educorp is a business. They profit a great deal off of selling 
shareware without the minimal courtesies of insuring that the 
programs work, that they are the latest versions available, and that 
the author is aware that they are selling it. I don't doubt they 
have the resources to "at least try" to contact every author. I know 
in working with the GAMER Project, we tried to contact every author 
of Mac entertainment (shareware) software. Out of 350 authors who 
were written, 1/3 of the authors responded, 1/3 of the letters were
returned as having invalid addresses (forwarding order expired, 
forward order not established), and 1/3 of the letters were either 
not returned by the authors or the US Postal System. At the GAMER 
Project, we only focus on entertainment/educational Mac shareware, 
but we have a "Shareware Authors Address Book" so those who at least 
wish to register programs have a VALID address to do so. From my 
statistics, fully 2/3 of the authors which listed addresses in their 
programs/documentation are currently incommunicado.
 
I am somewhat puzzled why everyone focuses on Educorp as the culprit 
when the commercial online services make no effort to contact 
authors nor to compensate them based on number of times/amount of time
involved in downloading. Although these companies don't depend like 
Educorp for their entire livelihood on shareware, most likely some 
of the electronic services would either would not have come about or 
would have folded with out the boost of big bucks from time expended 
on downloads. At least the electronic services check the programs 
for viruses and generally keep the latest versions online. Then 
there are many user groups which shareware authors rightly don't 
besmirch generating revenues to support their non-profit groups 
through the modest sales of pd/shareware disks.
 
What would be great is if there was a model online service which 
gave a percentage of revenues generated by the downloads  to the 
author of that program -- and also protected the caller from wasting 
money on downloading buggy/crummy programs by reviewing each program 
and designating a section of premium programs and "at own risk" 
programs. Fred Showker, with the MUG News Service, distributes 
shareware to raise money for the non-profit Johnny Appleseed Awards 
(including grants to community service minded Mac 
enthusiasts)...from what I hear, a percentage of the revenues go 
back to the authors, but as usual, the big companies making the big 
buck put their money in advertisement, spending less on promoting 
the prosperity of shareware authors, whereas the people who try to 
do the "right" thing struggle in obscurity. And I have heard from 
many shareware authors which have spent hundreds/thousands of hours 
on their hobby/first experience with the business world, only to not 
receive a single registration or even postcard....there are lots of 
interesting talented people in the Mac world who dwell in obsurity 
...

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 * Origin: New Orleans Mac User Group BBS (1:396/13)