Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!rutgers!mtune!petsd!peora!joel
From: joel@peora.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: enforcement of Sharewar
Message-ID: <2765@peora.ccur.com>
Date: 8 Feb 88 17:05:30 GMT
References: <8055@g.ms.uky.edu> <174@piring.cwi.nl> <39450@sun.uucp> <8255@g.ms.uky.edu>
Organization: Concurrent Computer Corporation, Orlando, Fl
Lines: 56
Summary: Shareware can work if you do it right

In article <8255@g.ms.uky.edu>, sean@ms.uky.edu (Sean Casey) writes:
> The fact is, shareware licenses are unenforceable. People know
> they're not going to get caught, so legal threats don't bother them.
> They aren't made to feel guilty by whining pleas for money.
> Shareware is a noble but stupid idea. It's based on a flawed view of
> users. It's almost never worked, and I'm pretty certain that it
> never will.
> 

I disagree with this. I think shareware can work. It just takes a little
imagination. I don't think that an company who distributes their product
as shareware is in that different a situtation than one who distributes
software without copy protection. Anyone who wants to use software without
paying for it can always find someone who will give them a copy. The
difference is one of degree rather than one of kind. A company that
distributes shareware may have a worse problem in this regard, but they
also have a lot less overhead than a company that uses normal distribution
channels.

I think it is very handy to be able try out software before paying for it.
How many times have you spent big bucks for a program only to find that
it doesn't do what you need? How many computer stores will let you try
out software for the time necessary to find out if it really does what
you need? And what if you buy software mail-order?

If a person uses the software on a regular basis, then there is usually
pretty good reason for them to register it. Regular notification of
updates, phone support, a bound manual. One way that I've seen that is
little smarter than most is what Brown Bag does with PC-Outline. The
version you get from a BBS has a tutorial overview included. When you
register it you get the real manual. The tutorial is enough to let you
try it out and see if you like it, and the real manual gives
you the detailed information on some of the more advanced features
that you are going to want to know if you use it on regular basis.

> If I had a product that I wanted to sell, I'd try to market it
> through one of the major vendors, or I'd buy 2x3" ad in Amazing
> Computing or Amigaworld and take my chances. Perhaps I'd distribute
> limited capability demo copies for free. I think that would be a
> great way to distribute a game (assuming it's something playable). I
> would *NOT* distribute via shareware. Statistically, is a stupid
> way to try to make money.

If you had some utility program or some other software product you
wanted to sell, what do you think the chances are if interesting
a major software house in marketing it? If it isn't a mass market
item that they can sell tens of thousands of copies of, I'd say
pretty slim. If you market it yourself how much money are you going
to spend for advertising before anyone is even aware that your software
exists. You could be out some big bucks before you discover that there
is no significant market for what you are trying to sell. Distributing
software as shareware can eat up a lot of time, but it hardly likely
to bankrupt you if you keep your day job.
-- 
Joel Upchurch/Concurrent Computer Corp/2486 Sand Lake Rd/Orlando, Fl 32809
joel@peora.ccur.com {cbosgd!codas,uiucuxc,hoptoad,petsd}!peora!joel (3058501040)