> 3. I and I believe
> others up until now were under the impression that according to our
> original "terms of purchase" we were entitled to free upgrades.
That hasn't changed, has it?
> That
> was the idea behind QPC (where the price for an update covered mainly
> Marcel's work... the fact that part of this work was done on SMSQ/E to
> bring it to up to par with QPC it's totally irrelevant to the OS
> itself and very relevant to what Marcel charges).
To be fair, though, you could also get free upgrades for SMSQ/E on the Q60.
4. For D&D (as both
> Dave and Bill said) we cannot really say what really goes on until
> either D. or D. (sic!) say their side of their story (as it's only
> fair :-).
Yes, of course it is.
> However did anybody ever consider that this is not a CD
> we're talking about here but an EPROM which needs to be burned and
> then tested?
That doesn't change anything, does it?
> Do they have to provide that for free too according to
> the SMSQ/E license?
Are you suggesteing that they are selling the Q60 with untested software and that the user gets a test version?
> My personal opinion is that they shouldn't... it's
> not the same thing as copying a CD (which as we said -Dave as well as
> me and others when the original license was discussed-) should be
> allowed to be copied by PD libraries and even (why not) a very small
> fee charged for all their trouble, shipping etc...
Just let's clarify the debate and distinguish, as the licence does, between source code and compiled code.
For source code, what does the licence say?
quote:
Any person may distribute the source code to others, provided however that the following conditions are adhered to by the person thus distributing the source :
- Such a distribution must be made entirely free of charge - no fees whatsoever, for copying or the media on which the software is copied or otherwise, may be levied. The distribution of the source code must contain a copy of this licence and a clear indication that this licence must be read and agreed upon by the recipient before using the source code.
- Such a distribution may only be made in either of two forms: Via a CDROM or via Email.
� Via CDROM
Exceptionally and only if distribution is made via CDROM, the person distributing the source code may request 3 IRCs and a blank CDROM from the recipient. All of the software, including the documentation and this licence must be distributed on the CDROM.
...
unquote.
That DOESN'T stop you from sending the source out to anybody, does it?
As to binary, or compiled code, that may only be distributed (sold!) through resellers.
> That hardly has
> ANYTHING to do with the distribution of SMSQ/E and I think that
> everyone would agree that the pursuit of a hobby, doesn't mean you
> need to blow your money away...
OK 10 EUR per new copy is blowing you money away.
Then, of course, you will NEVER buy a Q40, because that costs so much more...
> (Some people ie. me don't have that
> much and the fact that we do love the platform doesn't mean we need to
> lose money on it... For example if I ran a PD library service (which I
> do in some form) and I provide SMSQ/E I should be able to charge
> something for the lost time and effort.
Yes, 3 IRCs.
> Additionally, having to send
> my SMSQ/E version back to the registrar so my buddy that wants to
> check it out (even if no intention to incorporate the changes back to
> the original version exists) (since no CVS in the usual form exists)
> is hindering development than encouraging it.
Sorry, let me again quote the licence to you
quote
As an exception to the prohibition of distribution of binary versions of the software other than through the resellers, you are hereby granted the right to distribute binary versions of the software to a maximum of 10 different persons (whatever the number and moment in time of the changes/additions/modifications you make), provided however that:
(a) you have made a change/addition/modification to the software compared to the official version and
(b) the person receiving the software from you undertakes to destroy the binary version
- after 2 months of receipt thereof,
- as soon as you inform such person that the version is no longer a test version but a final version,
- as soon as any such change has been submitted to the registrar and accepted by him for inclusion in the official version
whatever comes first.
The person receiving the binaries from you must also undertake not to distribute binary versions to anybody else � except yourself- , even if he/she did make any change/addition/modification to the code.
Even if you make several changes/additions/modifications to the software, you may only distribute test versions to the same 10 persons maximum.
unquote
5. Finally, the fact
> that TT did choose (IIRC again, don't shoot if I am wrong) not to make
> any money out of SMSQ/E any more but in that meeting you all had,
> decided to have him re- imbursed despite his original intentions to me
> at least means that he wasn't interested in getting anything more out
> of it.
There are two aspects to this:
1 -Payment of 10 EUR to TT. OK, so he didn't ask for that explicitly.
2 - Resellers may only distribute OFFICIAL versions of the software. THAT IS somehting that TT cares about.
> Don't get me wrong, I think it's brilliantly designed and as
> long as it was actively developed by him I had no problem paying for
> it, however now I don't really see why I should? Especially since the
> rest of the people that do develop it do not...
Oh, but we do.
Slowly, alright, but we still do.
> in VERY good faith,
I never doubted that.
Wolfgang
