On 9/4/05, James Wages <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On 9/5/05 1:15 AM, "Mel" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > obsolete software (E.G. selling or
> > using WORD v 2 or 3 or 4 or 5; selling or using EXCEL
> > v 2.2, 3. 4. etc)
>
> In the case of large corporations that are still around (like Adobe, MS,
> etc.), I would steer clear of swapping that software under the label of
> abandonware. These firms like to pounce because they have nothing better to
> do. And MS still sells software under than name "Excel" and "Word"
> (regardless of whether the current versions are incompatible with 68k Macs).
>
> My definition of "abandonware" encompasses software that is "obsolete" (more
> than 10 years old) and is no longer sold/supported/managed/watched-after by
> any owner. It's my contention that abandonware should be legal for small
> communities of "obsolete" computer users to tap, as a last resort.
>
> With that said, keep in mind that sometimes companies come along a purchase
> "rights" to old software from companies that go insolvent, and they then
> kill the technology (for, in my opinion, "foolish business reasons"). Most
> of these companies couldn't care less about the technology, which again,
> doesn't make a bit of sense (I say this as a business owner who would never
> do something so stupid). Other companies may buy the technology so they can
> rework it to re-sell in a different form (like making the technology work on
> cell phones and the like), but those companies are a minority.
>
> If you're looking for old software, it's best to try to buy ("re-license") a
> copy off EBAY. But again, you risk buying junk because many floppies have
> bad blocks now (20 years after they were made). However, you could gain
> some "sentimental value" in having the original disks and manuals.
>
> You may also want to write some companies, if they are still around, and see
> if they will help meet your need. It's a long shot, but its ethically
> proper to try that.
>
> A final approach is to "google" the term "abandonware" and tap that resource
> as a last resort.
>
> Another important fact to consider is that many Mac users are just like me
> -- you owned a Mac 128k back in '84 and you bought a lot of software that
> went bad over time. For many years I didn't have a hard drive because they
> were too expensive. And some of the software I bought was copy protected,
> so I couldn't make backups (even with Copy II Mac). And so the floppies
> went bad, and now I can't use the software, and the original company who
> once sold/supported it went bankrupt years ago!
>
> In such a case, online abandonware resources can come in handy. You've
> already paid for the software anyway; and while the legal-beagles will argue
> with me on this point, the fact is, "obtaining a refurbished copy" of what
> you've already paid for is within the realm of "good ethics, good morals"
> and *should be* legal under "fair use rights."
>
> But again, "mammon" rules the world. And big corporations have lots of
> that. And in the eyes of the law, the little people with little cash
> usually get the shaft in terms of the law. Another complication is "what
> law?" You may not live in Canada or the US, so it may be perfectly legal
> for you to download "abandonware."
>
> In conclusion, please keep in mind that this discussion should never
> encourage outright pirating of software that is still sold and supported.
> But it should work to stimulate some real thought on the issue of
> "abandonware." Certainly, I would much rather *USE* my System 6 Mac than
> spend all day talking about whether its morally, ethically or legally wrong
> for me to refurbish my original copy of MacAttack from an abandonware site!
> The primary aim here is to keep the classic Mac community alive and kicking.
> That's what it's all about.
>
> Best,
>
> James Wages
>
The way I see it, if you are already an owner of an original copy of a
software that you bought legitimately, and that copy goes bad in some
way (disk gets old and bad sectors form, etc) short of user abuse
then it should be OK to "refurbish", as James put it, that copy from
an outside source. And this is REGARDLESS of whether or not the
software in question is abandonware or not. Nowadays, this isn't so
much an issue with software as it's basically all supplied on CD or
DVD but this wasn't the case a few years back. It's pretty hard to
damage a CD or DVD short of deliberate mistreatment, but floppies can
go tits up on a whim and for no good reason.
A great example here, I have an original copy of MacGolf on a 400k
floppy that we bought new back in '88 or something that was played on
the 512k and Plus. I dug the game out the other day because I thought
it would be a fun trip down memory lane since I've been using the 512k
lately but not surprisingly, the disk is no longer readable.
This game had a copy protection scheme that I was never able to figure
out, and over the years I tried multitudes of various programs that
claimed they could successfully duplicate most all copy protected
disks, but none of them were ever successful with this game. They
usually copied fine, but when you tried to run the game from the
copied disk, somehow the program knew it wasn't the original and
wouldn't let you play. I was usually succesful in cracking copy
protection schemes on Apple II software (for backup purposes only, of
course), often times it was a matter of software companies using an
"incorrect" number of tracks in the formatting process. And I'm glad I
did, because I have a number of games for those systems where my
original 5.25" masters have failed but I luckily have viable backup
copies to work from. But that MacGolf always stumped me. Therefor, I
have no backup copy of MacGolf and at this point my only option would
be to try and find a used copy somewhere. Unfortunately, I have never
even seen a copy on eBay and I never knew anyone else who ever owned
the game.
This would be a perfect case where I believe that if there was
somebody out there who ever DID crack the protection, it should be
perfectly fine to replace my defunct original with a working backup.
The game was (C)1985 by Practical Computer Applications, Inc., a
company that apparently no longer exists. There is currently a
different company in operation with the same name that was founded in
1992.
In the user manual there is a short blurb that says if the media
should ever fail, you can send in the damaged disk to the company and
receive a free replacement. Doesn't tell you what to do when the media
fails and the company no longer exists, though. :/
-Nat
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