Date   : Tue, 15 Mar 2005 21:19:13 -0000
From   : "A.J.Davis" <mail@...>
Subject: Re: Beebem question / game copyright question

I've done a lot in the Sinclair Spectrum world from 1986 to present and used
to run a very large and popular software / PD library back in the 90's.  My
biggest 'coup' was getting distribution rights to Gremlin Graphics games.
To completely avoid any problems (legal and financial), we used to put the
games on our tape / disk magazine 'AlchNews' free of charge.

However, I can recall getting numerous threatening letters from companies
which subsequently purchased / bought out / took over Gremlin Graphics.
Martijn Van De Heide from the Spectrum software archive "World of Spectrum"
still gets requests from companies to remove their games from his archive -
Codemasters being one.  And this was a company that made it's name (and
money) on the Spectrum.

The lawyers for the TV programme and/or channel will scrutinise the
arrangement very closely.  If a company can get money from one of their
products - be it a game written over twenty five years ago - and getting it
through legal action, they'll do it.  They're not like us 'normal' people.

Andy.


-----Original Message-----
From: Majordomo List Manager [mailto:majordomo@...] On Behalf Of F.
Haroon
Sent: 15 March 2005 15:02
To: Brian Widdas
Cc: Jules Richardson; bbc-micro@...
Subject: Re: [BBC-Micro] Beebem question / game copyright question

Is there a real danger that someone may actually sue?  Over a game that no
longer sells and is used freely anyway?

Let's have an example  - Planetoid or Killer Gorilla.  Who's gonna sue over
this?  Or will the BBC be prosecuted over airing games like this? 
I shouldn't worry even if it was something like Elite or UIM, many of the
vendours aren't even around or have better things to do.  Or are aware of
the market size and will just let it be.  I think the risk is very small.

Fiaz.