Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!texsun!texbell!sugar!ficc!peter From: peter@ficc.uu.net (Peter da Silva) Newsgroups: comp.sources.d Subject: Re: Paying for Shareware Message-ID: Date: 8 Jan 90 17:25:52 GMT References: <1134@utoday.UUCP> <15410@well.UUCP> Reply-To: peter@ficc.uu.net (Peter da Silva) Organization: Xenix Support, FICC Lines: 19 Jef, I'm afraid your analysis of shareware is both simplistic and deceptive. You're right about one thing: you are under no legal or ethical obligation to pay for software that arrives through broadcast channels such as Usenet, Bulletin Board systems, and publicly redistributable disk libraries. However, it is in your self- interest to do so, since it provides an incentive for people who write the programs you use to improve on them. You may also find them more likely to support you with little problems if they have a check from you in their bank account. So, don't worry. I'm not calling you scum. I just think you're a little short-sighted. As for your diatribe against shareware authors, though, it's a bit out of line. Any transaction that provides percieved value to both sides is ethically and morally sound. And that includes receiving a shareware package over a public channel. -- _--_|\ Peter da Silva. +1 713 274 5180. . / \ Also or \_.--._/ v "Have you hugged your wolf today?" `-_-'