marty1@hounx.ATT.COM (M.B.BRILLIANT) (03/22/89)
From article <88151@felix.UUCP>, by art@felix.UUCP (Art Dederick): > .... Gee, just had a thought, > maybe I can sue for false advertising on the part of the > distributors (Hey Compu$erve, like a lawsuit? :-) > .... Make some law that requires any distributor of shareware to > notify possible recipients that what he is paying for is not "PD" but, Many shareware authors require that distributors "prominently" indicate when they are distributing shareware. A distributor who advertises the program for $3 without mentioning the license fee is violating the copyright. So what? Is the author going to forbid that distributor to distribute his product? He only hurts himself. I think that's one reason the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP) was formed. If they all boycott the offending distributors, they have clout. Sizzleware is one distributor that tries to identify shareware and print the shareware license fee in their catalog, though not in their magazine ads, but they don't always get it right. > Maybe I should lobby in c.b.i.p.d etc. for NO shareware > unless its listed as such in the heading (subject line maybe). > I wonder what RD would say about this, listening? I agree absolutely with this. I think ASP would also. > The bottom line, commercial software is still commercial software, > it does not belong on Usenet. Announcements of the existence of such > software and the way to get it is ok. I don't agree with this. I think shareware is a good idea in software distribution. As a customer, I like the idea of trying before buying. The authors save money on the distribution, which could make up for the fees they don't get from users who don't pay. The only question here is, do the people who pay for the distribution get net value? I think so. Rahul at least considers the possibility. I think we should consider shareware as something different from commercially distributed software, but without trying to discriminate among different kinds of shareware according to how they ask for payment. Let ASP define shareware, and we take it or leave it. > Now where did I put that asbestos jumpsuit? There it is. Ok I'm > ready, let her rip!! I think you made some good points. M. B. Brilliant Marty AT&T-BL HO 3D-520 (201) 949-1858 Holmdel, NJ 07733 att!homxc!marty Disclaimer: Opinions stated herein are mine unless and until my employer explicitly claims them; then I lose all rights to them.