From: jsp@uts.amdahl.com (James Preston)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games
Subject: Re: What implies "legal user"? (Was: Hellcats help needed)
Date: 31 Jul 92 18:07:55 GMT
Reply-To: jsp@pls.amdahl.com
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

cpage@adobe.com (Chris Page) writes:

}In article <1992Jul28.184149.21595@constellation.ecn.uoknor.edu>, rob@constellation.ecn.uoknor.edu (Robert K Shull) writes:
}> 
}> doron@tavdac.ENET.dec.com (Doron Angel) writes:
}> 
}> >I do not get it. If you bought the game you SHOULD have both booklet and pilot's
}> >Manuall. If you are not a legal user, (original disk is not an idication)...
}> 
}> So what does indicate a "legal user"? Why not the media? It seems to me that

} [Stuff deleted]

}> Also, there are a lot of reasons why a LEGAL user might not have the manual
}> (lost, trashed, packed, stored elsewhere, purchased from someone who only
}> had disks, etc.). Why is it necessary to assume that someone has stolen the
}> software? Do you always have to assume the worst? How about a little thought
}> on "innocent until proven guilty" (or at least "innocent until we've got a
}> slight amount of evidence").

}Yes, people do lose manuals. Yes, we'd like to be able to assume that people
}are honest and trustworthy. No, we don't like calling someone a "thief".

}However...

}There have been a few messages asking this type of question before ("What are
}the Hellcats keyboard controls?") and I think we are safe to assume that most
}people who legally purchase software are not going to ask this question because
}it is covered in the manual.

I would just like to add one little thing to this thread:  If a legal owner
of Hellcats (or any piece of software, for that matter) has lost the manual, 
he should contact the company to get a replacement.  In the specific case
of Hellcats, the serial number is printed on the master disk if I remember
correctly, so there should be no problem convincing someone at the company
by phone that you do indeed have a legal master disk.  At that point, they
would likely be happy to give you all the information you want, including
keyboard commands, etc. so that you can start playing right away.

Yes, there are many legitimate ways a legal owner can lose a manual.  But
the sad reality is that there are also a lot of people who have no
compunction about using illegal copies of software, especially games.
Given that there is no way to tell the difference over the net, I see
no reason why anyone should ever answer someone's request for information
about how to play a game.  (Obviously, trading tips and helpful hints
is fine.)

The copy protection scheme on Hellcats is not perfect; they can be slow
to send it out, and many people (including myself) had to call the company
in order to get it to work even then.  But the company still deserves a
lot of credit for not going the easy route and not even providing the
unlock ability.  I urge all legal owners of Hellcats to support the
company by not giving out information that potentially helps pirates.

To the original poster of the request:  If you are a legal owner, call
the company and I'm sure they will be happy to help you.  If you need
the phone number, just let me know and I'll be glad to get it for you
(my manual is at home right now).

--James Preston

Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.games