Xref: utzoo comp.sys.amiga:13520 comp.sys.misc:1018 comp.sys.ibm.pc:10964 comp.sys.mac:11481 comp.sys.atari.st:7092
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!aimt!breck
From: breck@aimt.UUCP (Robert Breckinridge Beatie)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Shareware & Honesty (Was: Software (and other kinds of) copying)
Message-ID: <469@aimt.UUCP>
Date: 22 Jan 88 05:46:24 GMT
References: <8055@g.ms.uky.edu> <174@piring.cwi.nl> <39450@sun.uucp> <6649@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>
Organization: AIM Technology, Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 33
Summary: You've missed the point

In article <6649@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>, mwm@eris (Mike (My watch has windows) Meyer) writes:
> 
> As for fair, that means according to the rules. The rules (laws) in
> the US state that if you give somebody something, it's *theirs*. You
> can get neither payment nor the return of the thing, unless there's a
> prior agreement about such.

I think that the laws state that you can not be required to pay for unsolicited
stuff that you get in the mail.  But you do not get to keep the stuff.
Of course, I'm not a lawyer.  This is just what I've been led to understand
by people who have received (for example) unsolicited magazine "trial
subscriptions".

> ... I find the very concept of shareware immoral
> and disgusting.
[Above taken grossly out of context]

Fine.  Don't use shareware.

> Especially when in many cases someone else is willing to give you the
> something very similar without calling you names if you don't pay for
> it.

Then there's no problem.  Don't use the Shareware stuff.  Just use the free
programs that people are standing in line to let you (you wonderful guy you)
use.  Continue to sponge off the hard work of people around you.  Continue
to refuse to give payment for value received just because the person neglected
to wait until your check cleared.  Be a man and don't give in to the blatant
extortion implicit in shareware.  America will be proud of you for it.
-- 
Breck Beatie
{uunet,pyramid!weitek}!aimt!breck
"Sloppy as hell Little Father.  You've embarassed me no end."