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From: vschonau@aqua.ucs.indiana.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Questions on shareware fees.
Keywords: shareware
Message-ID: <629@cica.cica.indiana.edu>
Date: 15 Mar 90 02:10:03 GMT
References: <3262@umn-d-ub.D.UMN.EDU>
Sender: news@cica.cica.indiana.edu
Reply-To: vschonau@aqua.ucs.indiana.edu
Organization: Indiana University
Lines: 42

In article <7194@goofy.Apple.COM>, rmh@apple.com (Rick Holzgrafe) writes...
[..stuff deleted..]
>Some products specifically say "$XX, or whatever you think it's worth". 
>For any others, pay the asking price or do without. This rule applies to 
>ANY property offered for sale: the owner decides the price he'll sell at, 
>not the buyer.

Some authors say: anything accepted, but official registration starts
at $xx...feel free to pay more.  I like these best.  
Part of the reason Shareware is out there is the outrageous price-level
of commercial software.  When people can NOT afford to get the commercial
software ---> piracy.  This is a problem for students (yes, poor students).
Solution for students: use shareware...but....if you pay in full for
all the shareware you use....you loose a fortune again.
My point:  If I would be marketing a shareware product, I would have the
following rule: any amount above (for example) $10 is enough for a 
license to use the product.  Then, when one is prepared to pay let's say
$20 or $30, I can include the newest version, and maybe even a nice manual.

>> 2) How would you determine wheather a SW product is over priced?
>If you'd rather have the money than the product, it's overpriced. At least 
>with shareware you can make this decision *after* trying the product.

I agree.  But I think there are too many shareware-writers out there who
expect people to pay $30 for buggy products.

[..more stuff deleted..]
> 
>> 5) If a company goes bankrupt or out of business, is it illegal to get
>>    copies of their product?
>Well, there you've got me. I don't know. Any lawyers out there?

I would assume not.  Although it depends who is the owner of the copyright:
the company or the author......if the latter, there go your $$.


..Vincent

+ Vincent Schonau  ..   Exchange Student from Holland at I.U....what a world. +
+ Bitnet: vschonau@iubacs         Internet:    vschonau@amber.ucs.indiana.edu +
+                                         :   sl198004@silver.ucs.indiana.edu +
+            Opinions? Who needs opinions? Ask someone else!                  +