Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cornell!rochester!rit!cci632!cb
From: cb@cci632.UUCP (Curtis Braun)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: Commercial software in comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Message-ID: <27567@cci632.UUCP>
Date: 28 Mar 89 18:25:08 GMT
References: <6260@bsu-cs.UUCP>
Reply-To: cb@cci632.UUCP (Curtis Braun)
Organization: CCI, Communications Systems Division, Rochester, NY
Lines: 48

In article <6260@bsu-cs.UUCP> dhesi@bsu-cs.UUCP (Rahul Dhesi) writes:
>But most people haven't addressed an issue I raised.  Very briefly, the
>question is:
>
>     Should illegal use of shareware be considered a benefit?
>
>                    ARPA:  dhesi@bsu-cs.bsu.edu

This discussion seems to be touching all realms for the public
(refer to distrubution) access to software. What should/can be distributed
and for whom? As Rahul questions, he is referencing the point of
benefit...

I have bought a lot of software. I have also been burned quite a few 
times (disfunctional - poor - brain damaged software). The NET is a great
place for me to try before I buy. Where else can I go?? If I buy a book, 
then I can go to the book store and peruse it (or check it out at the library)
If I go to the retailer to check out the software, There are always 
problems with equipment compability, software availability, etc.
(Let's not even speak of software rental houses).

The benefit of the NET is to be able to attain software to try it out (1)
and get other user's opinions on that sofware that is/was posted (2),
and have an archive for those future needs [I didn't need pccurses last
year, but now I do!](3). Thanks Rahul for the first pass at the software,
he is the first step in weeding out junk [he saves us time](4). IF all
good software had a (MIF style) self destuct timer in it, and was able to be
distrubuted on the net ($$ status irrelevent), IT would still be a 
benefit to the NET readers, because YOU the net reader could evaluate it.

I have a personal archive of software, I keep it, but I don't use it, but
it's there for the asking. No one said that this (the NET ) is a forum 
for FREE software. It's a forum for the FREE exchange of ideas and 
information!! If software is made available to US (net readers) then it
is still the property of the author(s). If It is given away (read free)
by the author, then be it. If the author says try me first, then the 
author excepts the risk that user may not like it or use it without
conscience (sp). As long as Rahul can determine it's legitemacy, 
(refer to as author has given permission to distribute) then it
is of benefit to the readers of the NET (and maybe others, as I pass on
info to people who do not have net access).

Rahul can't stop people from borrowing software from their place of
work, their friends. Why should he have to worry about what people
borrow from the authors that have allowed distribution through him?


Curtis ( !rochester!kodak!n2hkd!curtis or cb@cci632.uucp)