Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!mintaka!mit-eddie!rutgers!umn-d-ub!umnd-cpe-cola!halam
From: halam@umnd-cpe-cola.d.umn.edu (haseen alam)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Questions on shareware fees.
Summary: Shareware, fee, etc.
Keywords: Shareware, fees.
Message-ID: <3262@umn-d-ub.D.UMN.EDU>
Date: 13 Mar 90 08:20:44 GMT
Sender: news@umn-d-ub.D.UMN.EDU
Reply-To: halam@umnd-cpe-cola.d.umn.edu (Haseen Alam)
Organization: University of Minnesota, Duluth Computer Science
Lines: 68



Hi to all,

I have a few questions.  Some shareware (SW) programs are really neat
and are worth their price.  But at times I run accross programs that in
my own opinion are a little over priced.  Also there are some that I do
not have an everyday use for, but they might come in handy at times.
Well now comes all the questions.

1) If I think a program is over priced, then what price should I pay for
   it?  Should I pay what I think is right?  Should I stop using the
   program?  Should I pay whatever the authors ask for? or Should I try
   to contact the author and explain why and how much I think is
   justified?

This also brings up aother question.

2) How would you determine wheather a SW product is over priced?  I do
   not know if there is any standard for this.  But I generally use the
   following check list and assign dollar values to each to come up with
   what I consider to be the right SW fee for that product.
   -- does it work on my Mac?
   -- does it do whatever it is supposed to do?
   -- what kind of a product is it? (cdev/init/game/utility/DA ... etc.)
   -- is it user friendly?
   -- is it MultiFinder friendly?
   -- does it conflict with anything?
   -- how useful is it to me?
   -- is it in color?
   -- how often do I use it?
   -- does it come with documentation?
   -- does it have on-line help?
   -- are there known bugs and incompatibility problems?
   -- what is the current version?  generally later versions have bug
      fixes, and increased features.
   -- how is it rated by other users? (mostly on the net and magazines)
   -- DO I LIKE IT?

This also means if you assign dollar values between $0.0 and $2.0 for
each of the 15 criteria above, then and SW product above $30 is over
priced.  And as a student I feel $2.0 is the most I can afford per
criteria.

3) Is there a time limit on the SW fee?  If I come accross a program
   which was last updated two or more years back, do I still have to pay
   the fee?  

4) If the SW (or even commertial) program is not supported by the author
   (or company), am I still obligated to pay for it?

5) If a company goes bankrupt or out of business, is it illegal to get
   copies of their product?


I guess that sould be enough to get some replies.  I am asking these
questions for two reasons.  First of all, I do not know the answers and
would like to know them.  Secondly, I am beginning to program on the
Mac, and someday I might have something out.  I would like to know my
rights as an author, the price that I should expect for my product (if
any?), and some legal rights!!  Anyway some more people may benefit from
this too.  Thanks in advance to all.

Haseen.
email:   halam@umnd-cpe-cola.d.umn.edu
	 halam@ub.d.umn.edu

PS:  It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.