Hi Sabahattin, Speaking for myself personally I agree with you in principle. While I understand the intent originally intended by the copyright laws the ways they are being used now days is downright evil, and I agree that Justin did the wrong thing by not releasing his software as freeware, abandonware, etc. He basically held the blind community up for ransom, said buy this unlock generator, or do without the games you paid for x years ago. Unfortunately, he didn't give the community long enough to buy the unlock generator, and some such as myself didn't have the money at the time so did without. So obviously from a personal perspective I don't feel too honor bound to Justin and copyright law because he used and outright abused the copyright laws in a way I feel is unethical.
That said, when I assumed leadership of Audyssey I agreed to be on the up and up when moderating the list which means regardless of how I feel personally I can't allow piracy even if it is done to someone whom I think did the wrong thing and misused copyright laws to serve his own ends. What that means is if someone wants to share the unlock code generator privately off the list, setup a torrent and give it away to others, personally I don't care. However, if they get on the list and start distributing it around I'll have to take action for no other reason than its the right thing to do legally if not in principle. After all, if I were the one being pirated on a list I would expect the same from another moderator/list owner. Cheers! On 4/6/14, Sabahattin Gucukoglu <[email protected]> wrote: > On 6 Apr 2014, at 20:53, Thomas Ward <[email protected]> wrote: >> Yes, redistributing the unlock code generator would be software >> piracy. The reason is that it was redistributed only by purchase only. >> It was never declared officially as abandonware, and the only way to >> obtain it was through a $75 purchase. Therefore redistributing it >> would be theft of a product you or others have not paid for from >> Justin. > > Oh, dear. I appear to be a pirate. :( > > Someone got in touch. They were a repair technician, setting up the > computer for the former owner of one or other of the BSC games. He asked me > for a code, but I didn't have a Windows installation available, so I gave > him my unlock code generator. > > Without wishing to appear unconcerned for the ethics of software piracy or > the copyright holder's lawful rights, I believe, very strongly, that Justin > made the wrong decision. I have no regrets about helping out that > technician, who presumably made the player's life better by giving him back > what he rightfully owned. And, in case it was all a lie and I've just made > some unscrupulous thief's life easier, well, it would support my belief that > the games should have been made abandonware in the first place. Copyright > law entitles people to do evil, as well as incentivising good. > > Cheers, > Sabahattin > > > --- > Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > [email protected]. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to [email protected]. > --- Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [email protected]. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [email protected].
