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From: mvo@cbnscs.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: bbs's and pirates
Message-ID: <222@cbnscs.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 14-Apr-87 21:04:02 EST
Article-I.D.: cbnscs.222
Posted: Tue Apr 14 21:04:02 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 19-Apr-87 01:36:55 EST
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T Network Systems, Columbus, Ohio
Lines: 54


I just had a rather strange experience "chatting" with the sysop of an ST
bulletin board and was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience.

First, I should describe my limited involvement with bulletin boards since
it does relate to my experience. I do not actively particate on any bulletin
board, I only log onto one if I am referred to it in order to download a
program (I realize some may criticize this behavior). This means that about
every other month I  end up searching a few bulletin boards; usually listed
in ST Applications. If I find the program I am looking for I will upload
a program that is not on the board and download the program of interest.

This evening, I logged onto a system that I had logged onto once before.
While listing the directories, the sysop put me in "chat" mode.

He - "Hello, do you have any GOOD PROGRAMS you would like to trade?"
Me - "I have some good PD software from USENET"
He - "Do you have anything else?"
Me - "I have only purchased 5 or 6 programs for my ST"
He - "Do you have anything else that you would be willing to trade?"
Me - "What do you mean?"
He - "I think you know what I mean"
Me - "Sorry"

At this point I was stumped. I wasn't sure if he was a pirate and wanted
to find out if I was, or that he wanted to keep pirates off of his BBS.
He broke off the chat mode and I continued to list the directories.
After about a minute he put me back in chat mode.

He - "You log into a lot of BBS's, are you a pirate or a narc?"
Me - "Narc?  I'm looking for a couple of programs I've heard about"

I then explained the reason I probably have userids on several BBS's.

Question - Do Sysops trade userid lists or was he just guessing?

He then asked me if I have come across much pirated stuff. I told him that
I haven't seen anything and asked him why he wanted to know. He explained
that he writes software reviews but cannot afford to purchase the software.
He then asked me if I had anything that I could upload to him so that he
could review it.

I told him "no" and went on to explain my position against software piracy.
During my explanation I told him that I was a software developer myself and
he again asked if I have any programs I would be willing to copy for him.

At this point I was getting upset and again explained the legal rights of
software developers and houses. Not getting anywhere, I ended the session.

Has anyone else been solicited for pirated software while on a BBS?
Am I being naive?  I was very suprised by this sysop's blatant approach. 


					Mark O'Riordan