> >> I don't think there is potential for selling copies of TK2 anymore, nor > >> that a freely available TK2 would hurt SMSQ/E, as SMSQ/E is so much more > >> advanced and caters to a different type of users. A public statement > >> about TK2 being free for non-commercial use would benefit users of > >> emulators that are interested in running early QL programs requiring TK2 > >> extensions, and at the same time preserve copies of the TK2 for its > >> historical and educational value. > > > > Thank you Daniele for raising the subject - it is for sure on behalf of > > people such as me who came much later into contact with the QL, want to > > learn something about how it works or just play around with it for a > > while. > > If I look back at my very first steps into QL world then the most > > valuable > > ressources from the beginning on were probably QLAY and the website with > > QL > > documentation by Dilwyn Jones (because my first real QL, purchased > > through > > ebay, came without a manual). > > I still appreciate Qlay very much as a good starting point - it would > > have > > been an incredible starting point for newcomers if it was packaged with a > > TK2 rom and a documentation for both the bare QL plus TK2 commands as PDF > > document! > > > > That raises another question: are the copyrights for QL manual and for > > TK2 > > manual in the hands of the same persons as those for the QDOS / TK2 > > software > > itself?
> Of course regarding the manuals, theoretically they are still copyrighted > at least until 2008 however due to permission given by Amstrad plc. they > can be distributed (like the ROMs) provided Amstrad's copyright is > mentioned. In any case they would be distributable as they would fall > under "fair use" (Educational and referential mainly - since they are not > available anyway and they weren't for sale to begin with). > > TK2 copyright will not expire until at least 2010 (I believe that it was > made available in 1985) however IIRC TK2 has been released to the public > by TT... Of course I may be wrong on the latter. (TT?) I was givena very limited permission to include an older, cut down TK2 on the QL Emulators CD. As far as I know, it only ever extended to the CD, which is why I never put TK2 on my website or any other CD or PD library. Also, please remember that the distribution permission given for the QL ROMs and manuals by Amstrad were only theirs to grant for the area they handled them, i.e. Europe. For USA/Canada for example, rights ro the QL ROMs and manuals are held by Paul Holmgren and Frank Davies who should be approached for permission to include or distribute the manuals or ROMs. There are examples of when people have correctly and reasonably asked for permission that the permission has been granted by these rights holders. When it comes to older manuals, copyright holders are sometimes only too glad to allow them to be put on websites etc as it saves them having to produce copies of older manuals for users who request them. Generally, many people will allow a limited distribution as long as they retain copyright to the material in question, that they are credited, that you do not make a profit from it and that you are considerate enough to ask them nicely! That said, if you just "assume" that because it's old, they won't mind, you are likely to find yourself at wrong end of a solicitor's letter I suppose. Rights to TK2 are held by different people to the QL ROM and manuals, i.e. Sinclair/Amstrad for QL ROM/manual and Tony Tebby for TK2. -- Dilwyn Jones _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
