It seems to me that Paul Koning's attitude will lead  retrocomputing to die. We 
can't all own computers that can do interesting things with front-panel 
programming alone.

By his definition, I have committed a lot of "theft" in my days to restore 
systems I had no other options left to deal with, due to restrictive licensing, 
incommunicado business entities, or IP situations with no well understood 
outcomes.

I am always happy to pay, but that's not always an option.

I agree the proper routes should always be pursued when possible, but bits are 
fading fast and without dark archives that may run afoul of present day 
copyright laws and original EULAs, many things will be lost permanently.

I find the mindset of considering all abandonware scenarios "theft" to be 
pedantic, toxic, shortsighted, and counterproductive- as well as logically and 
legally baseless.

- I

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 14, 2015, at 20:11, geneb <ge...@deltasoft.com> wrote:
> 
>> On Sat, 14 Nov 2015, Paul Koning wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> "Abandonware" is a term invented as an excuse to steal other people's 
>> property.  Let's not try to apply it here.
> 
> Copyright infringement is not theft... at least according to the Supreme 
> Court, but then again, what do they know?
> 
> g.
> 
> -- 
> Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
> http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
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> Some people collect things for a hobby.  Geeks collect hobbies.
> 
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> A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
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