On Wed, 14 Nov 2007 08:17:34 GMT, winston19842005 wrote:
> Ok, got a question for you guys.
>
> Hopefully, it is on-topic...
>
> If you had a BASIC compiler for a long-dead computer, that you
> bought 20 years ago, and have no way of reaching the author or
> company (I have tried for about the last 10 years)...
>
> This is a company on U.S. Soil - would you release the software to
> your fellow community?
>
> It is the ONLY full compiler for BASIC on the target machine.
>
> I know what the community thinks now - or at least the half that
> doesn't care about copyrights... I've actually been accused of
> doing the community a "disservice" by not releasing the software
> much earlier... Gee, I paid for it - they didn't...
>
> I also know there has been a push to release such "dead" software
> from copyright, but the progress has been slow and apparently, from
> what I've heard, has been weakened and may not even cover such
> gems...
This is really a legal question.
From a legal viewpoint (IANAL) I would say no, because the instant you
post it, the company will magically appear out of nowhere with a
lawsuit or some other fun stuff.
From a community viewpoint (which I sup****t, usually) I'd say post it.
I'm a member of a "group" (of sorts -- not a warez group or even
really a "group" at all, just a smallish gathering of like-minded
folks) where that's all we do -- keep older software alive. (*Really*
old -- no newer than 1994, usually.)
In the end, the decision whether to release it or not falls squarely
on your shoulders. If you aren't comfortable with posting it, then
don't, and tell the people that you're doing the community a
disservice what you said here: I paid for it, you didn't, go to hell.
Just out of curiosity, what system and what BASIC?
--
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*****
You are who you are, and frankly, you don't owe anyone anything.
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