Date   : Mon, 07 Feb 2000 13:51:47 -0000
From   : "Wayne Allen" <wayne@...>
Subject: Copyright theft

As someone who has had to pursure companies for illegal use of photographs,
a situation in terms of copyright very similar to that of software I would
like to make a few comments.

> I think it should stay open - what are Superior going to do? Trace his
> ISP (he has his own domain now) and tell them to shut him down? Or are
> they going to sue him (which will cost them more than the loss of game
> sales, and it will be laughed out of court anyway).

They dont need to sue, all they need to do is to obtain a court order and
legally require his ISP to terminate the connection. In addition, there are
organisations that will gladly do the same. As to the matter being laughed
out of court.... The issue is copyright and not lost games sales, I can
assure you that the court would not find it funny.


> What I think Superior should do is maybe do a budget CD with all the
> games and solutions, maps, docs and reviews on, plus a registered
> version of pcBBC (with Superior giving some of the proceeds of the CD to
> the author). Until they do that, though...

And I bet nobody has ever written to them to suggest it. Why don't you?

> ...I fully endorse RetroBBC staying open. Come on Dextrovix - Superior
> AREN'T going to be able to do anything about it - they're practically
> non-existent any more, they're in no position to sue you.

Maybe but they still exist. And it does seem to be very easy for you to
suggest that somone else breaks the law... it would not be you that gets
that lovely buff envelope.

Secondly I feel that it is attutudes like this that force software companies
to take such a harsh stand. I personally begrudge paying Microsoft 400/500
ukpounds for office software, but then how would I feel if all the software
companies said, well since we have so many cheats around we will have to
charge even more!!!!

Remember copyright theft is still THEFT!!!!

Wayne