I agree with Edward here. Those materials are copyrighted and when EA bought Origin that purchase included all of Origin's intellectual properties. You can't compile, and redistribute any of it without their express permission and probably a royalty fee.
This brings up the whole issue of abandonware. It's a wonderful concept that old unused intellectual properties, that are no longer supported by their owners become public domain for historical preservation purposes, but it doesn't actually work. Their protection isn't limited in the slightest. If you want to make a backup of the old tapes for your own personal use (aka you are the lawful owner of them and are backing them up for your own preservation purposes) then you are ok, but as soon as you give one of those copies to a friend it's just another form of piracy, and if you charge for it then you are making yourself a huge target for action. Karl Kuras ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edward Franks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2003 5:32 AM Subject: Re: [SWCollect] Software collecting videos > > On Tuesday, February 4, 2003, at 02:51 PM, Jim Leonard wrote: > [Snip] > > I wasn't planning to charge for the DVD so I didn't think there would > > be legal > > issues. > > It doesn't matter if you charge for it or not. EA might not be able > to get punitive damages, but their lawyers could kill your pocketbook. > :-/ > > > There's always the option of a "bootleg" where I don't charge for it > > and don't put any names on it... In any case I'll certainly ask. > > > >> I also have another Origin promotional tape, that was distributed to > >> software stores circa 1989. They are cheaply made advertisements for > >> old Origin games like Windwalker, Knights of Legend, 2400 AD, and > >> another (no Ultima tho.) They were obviously made 'in-house', and > >> they are not the best-produced commercials that I've ever seen, but > >> they are an interesting look at the birth of computer game > >> advertising. Again, if you get the permissions, I'd be glad to > >> contribute! :) > > > > Who would I talk to about that? EA or someone else? EA hadn't > > purchased > > Origin by that time. > > If the tapes were Origin property -- I don't see why they wouldn't be > -- I imagine they all became EA's property when EA bought Origin. > Other than Akalabeth and Lord British I can't think of anything that > was negotiated as a separate property. > > -- > > Edward Franks > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to > the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' > Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This message was sent to you because you are currently subscribed to the swcollect mailing list. To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of 'unsubscribe swcollect' Archives are available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/swcollect@oldskool.org/
