Oz WB PCBs - now available - Or how I screwed the list

[joe graham]

I think that the people who are arguing about the money involved are totally 
missing the point.  This is not now nor was it ever about money.  This was 
about someone who totally ignored the user agreement and proceded to flaunt 
it and say there is nothing you can do about it.  Make no mistake here the 
user agreement is crystal clear in this regard.
“It is not intended for commercial use, or to be in any manner related to a 
profit organization or individual. By downloading the following information 
you will be agreeing that it is for your own personal non profit use.”
This piece of “freeware” was given away with the expectation that you would 
use it yourself for no profit.  The reason I call it freeware is I feel it 
is.  It falls under the same general concept as say Jay writing an archive 
cleanup tool.  Everyone here would be up in arms if I tried to sell his 
cleanup tool.  Even if I sold it for a penny per copy.  I have no right to 
sell his software no matter how much I change it or how many times I say he 
gave it to me so no it is mine.  It would be morally wrong.  To make matters 
worse the only real recourse Jay has against someone selling his software is 
to stop giving away the software he writes.  This is exactly what happened 
with the WB.  When the agreement was broken, flaunted and then Peter’s 
actions defended by some on the list, the people with the experience to make 
new projects go simply said no more.  They are well within their rights to 
do this.  I believe I would do the same thing.  I can really understand 
where Bruce is coming from.  He has spent a great deal of time making this 
list happen. (I know that he is not the only one so please no flames for 
just mentioning his name and not yours.)  He has answered questions and 
provided information that is invaluable.  He visits other boards and spreads 
the word.  For all this he gets replies like its only “5 or 10 dollars” and 
“can we talk about something else now” and “this is not the lists business.” 
  Well it is the lists business.  Piracy and  tolerence of piracy has 
damaged this lists ability to move forward technologically.  Everyone who is 
developing something now is keeping it to themselves.  After all why should 
they share it with people who are ungrateful or people who will steal it and 
sell it or people who demand it because you have it.  Without being able to 
move forward this list is nothing more than a rehash for those who are not 
willing to read the archives.   No one should condone this sort of behavior. 
  Those who do also screw the list.

JG


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