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From: WANCHO@SIMTEL20.arpa
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Profiteering from Shareware/Freeware?
Message-ID: <1692@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 26-Jun-86 01:32:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-smok.1692
Posted: Thu Jun 26 01:32:40 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 30-Jun-86 05:22:57 EDT
Sender: news@brl-smoke.ARPA
Lines: 56

The concept of "shareware" is a sore subject with me.  If it weren't
for the network of bulletin boards, and user groups with an existing
distribution mechanism, and a dearth of quality software for MS/PCDOS,
shareware would have been stillborn.

Note that the SIG/M librarian refuses to carry such software.  He
doesn't believe shareware authors should be allowed to piggy-back on a
mechanism designed and supported by authors who freely contribute
their works with no monetary strings attached.  He has more than
enough such contributions.

On the other hand, the PC/BLUE librarian has no such qualms.  To me,
it's a sign of desperation: it appears that there just aren't enough
quality contributions freely given into the public domain in the
MS/PSDOS world.  Perhaps the authors for the PCs come from a different
mindset; perhaps they believe PC owners are professionals who are more
willing to pay vs. the hackers of the CP/M world, many of whom built
their own systems and banded together to share their works with each
other.

Not too long ago, several companies offered collected, pruned, and
documented sets of public domain collections.  Some of us became upset
with these companies, who appeared to make a relatively small
contribution to the value of the original works and then have the
nerve to *charge* considerably more than the currently discussed $6 a
disk.  They were in a *business* to make money; SIG/M and the PC/BLUE
groups are volunteer members of non-profit computer groups.

So, the argument went that it appeared unethical to profit from the
works of others.  Now enter shareware.  We finally have a case where
the author has everything to gain from even more potential
contributions when a commercial vendor includes his work in a
collection he sells for a bit over the cost of duplication.  The $6
charge seems to be more than fair when you consider that the SIG/M and
PC/BLUE groups charge that and use volunteer labor.

To clarify a minor point: PC-SIG has often been mentioned in the same
context as SIG/M and PC/BLUE.  PC-SIG is NOT a volunteer non-profit
user group; it is a commercial operation.  Even if we had the disk
space, it is not likely we will ever get their permission to carry
their collections on SIMTEL20.  Why would we need their permission?
Because you can collect public domain works and claim a copyright the
collection...

Finally, let me say that shareware isn't really a bad idea.  However,
let's have shareware authors keep within the spirit of the concept:
offer a product and enough documentation with it to be able to use it
properly.  The documentation doesn't have to be "complete".  Offer the
registration for current version, update/patch notices, and full
hardcopy documentation in return for the registration fee
(contribution).  But, PLEASE, no guilt trips: DO NOT tell me I can
only use your product for 14 days, or else.  I won't even bother using
it at all, and I will refuse to recommend or even mention your product
to others, no matter how good it may be, or is trying to be.

--Frank