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From: barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Barry Gold)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Software Piracy - Marketing Persipective
Message-ID: <1025@sdcrdcf.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 20-Apr-84 08:03:33 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcrdcf.1025
Posted: Fri Apr 20 08:03:33 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 23-Apr-84 00:54:26 EST
References: <326@hou2a.UUCP> <441@dual.UUCP>
Reply-To: barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Barry Gold)
Organization: System Development Corporation, Santa Monica
Lines: 51


I am the author of two Fantasy Role Playing Games.  The first came to
about 130 pages printed; the second about 100 pages.
Each took about six months to write.  And another 18 months to rewrite,
based on data from playtesting.  (This probably corresponds to debugging.)

I am expected to provide post-publication support in the form of rules
clarifications for everyone who writes my publisher requesting such.

In addition, I edit/publish a small magazine.  And all subscribers expect
to be able to get post-publication rules clarifications/additions from me.
They also expect to be able to take my rules, change them to fit their own
gaming circle, and ask my opinion of the changes.

I love all this.

But whether or not I provided these services, I would expect that people
should not xerox my rules rather than paying for them.  I don't make that
much money a copy and neither does the publisher.  I get 10% of gross
purchase price of a game (and so does the publisher).  One game retails
for $18; the other for $12.  Stores buy at 50% retail price so I get 90 cents
for one game; 60 cents for the other.  Both of us wait for our money.
The publisher sends the games out and gets paid COD (often after they'e
sold).  I get paid 3-6 months after that.

So much for the facts.  Now on to the theory.

Copying material is NOT akin to taking loose money found in the street.
Such money is effectively abandoned unless there exists some method of
tracing the owner, because money does nmot have ID tags.  No one can prove
that's his five dollar bill (though they may well claim a wallet and its
contents).

Copying material is not akin to taking anything found in the street.
Written stuff is not lost/abandoned.  Its ownership is usually clearly
visible.

Copying material is akin to shoplifting.  You are stealing something that
belongs to someone else.  You are stealing it when you could legitimately
pay for it.  You are also (like a shoplifter) forcing others to pay a
higher price if the producer/retailer wish to make a fair profit but
don't get your money.

Lee Gold
Editor, Alarums and Excursions
Author, Land of the Rising Sun
	Lands of Adventure
-- 
	Barry Gold
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