From: kbass@gmuvax2.gmu.edu (Ken Bass)
Subject: Re: OS/2 Fax Software Piracy
Organization: George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 00:37:04 GMT

In article <721574952.F00001@tdkt.kksys.com> Keller.Group@f115.n282.z1.tdkt.kksys.com (Keller Group) writes:
>Several people from Germany and Austria have recently faxed me
>registration forms and bug reports for our OS/2 fax software.  The
>fact that we don't directly provide end-user support for these
>products isn't what bothers me.  (We are the developer, but our
>products are published and supported by our partners, such as SofNet
>in the U.S. and Dr. Neuhaus in Germany.)
>
>What bothers me is that these users have an unlicensed beta version
>of our product that is being widely distributed through BBS sites in
>Europe.  One of our beta testers distributed a 0.99 beta version of
>our software that was being tested under the "BitFax for OS/2" name.
>And it seems that European BBS sites have little respect for software
>ownership issues.
>
>Shareware software is great, and I personally use several good
>shareware products.  I've also paid the registration fees to the
>developers of these products, and I strongly encourage others to do
>the same.  But OS/2 will not succeed without commercial OS/2 software
>in the distribution channel, and beta versions of commercial products
>are not shareware.  I am disappointed to see that BBS sites are
>allowing themselves to be used for this sort of unauthorized
>distribution.
>
>We are seriously studying the suggestions and requirements of OS/2
>BBS operators and users, and we would like to enhance our PMfax
>products to satisfy these requirements.  But it is difficult to
>justify such development when certain members of the BBS community
>are actively participating in the unauthorized distribution of our
>products.  If the BBS community expects to receive respect and
>attention from commercial software developers, it must also show
>respect for the rights of such companies and individuals.  Failure to
>do this is harmful to everyone.
>
>And to the users of the 0.99 BitFax for OS/2 software, the problems
>that you are reporting were fixed long ago, and you'd save yourself a
>lot of time by purchasing a licensed (and supported) copy of PMfax.
>
>Mark Ahlstrom
>
> * KWQ/2 1.0C *
>
>
> * Origin: (1:282/115)

While I certainly understand your being upset at piracy of your program.
You make several points that are dead wrong.

1) If people are sending in registration or bug reports, perhaps they
dont realize it is a commercial product?

2) Does the BBS community give a shit if it gets respect from
"commercial" developers. Besides communication, BBS has played a vital
role in distributing low cost shareware--an alternative to rip-off
commercial software targeted to businesses.

3) To hold a few users actions against the BBS community is absurd. It
is like me holding the entire fax community reponsible for your
comments.

   ---Ken

-- 
Ken Bass (kbass@gmuvax2.gmu.edu)              |   Telecommunications  
George Mason University                       |   Techniques Corp, 
Student, Department of Electrical Engineering |   Software Engineer 
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.apps