I can't find the thread or email archives any more, but I got flamed for daring to abuse the Internet for commercial software distribution purposes in July 1992, for posting this announcement of SimCity for HyperLook on NeWS for SunOS 4.1, and making it available on ftp.uu.net.

You could download the fully functional demo via ftp from ftp.uu.net, but it melted your city after a few minutes. Then you could buy a license key over the phone via an 800 number with your credit card and immediately unlock it, and they'd optionally mail you a box with a floppy and printed manual for an additional charge. There weren't any https or many http web servers at the time, and it was unwise to send your credit card number via email.

Before that time, that was strictly prohibited by the Department of Defense's (DOD's) official ARPANET Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), but around 1991 the National Science Foundation (NSF) lifted the restrictions on commercial use of the NSFNET, however everybody hadn't gotten the memo by the time I released SimCity commercially for Unix in July 1992, so I got flamed of course.

Rick Adams, who was on the forefront of commercializing the Internet, gave me an account on uunet to distribute it via anonymous ftp from ftp.uu.net, so he was fine with it, and I ignored the flamers. A huge amount of usenet uucp traffic was routed through the uunet hub, so I often got so some strange misdirected emails to don@uunet / uunet!don, but never any with credit card numbers.

https://donhopkins.com/home/SimCity_HyperLook.gif

https://donhopkins.com/home/HyperLookSimCityManual.pdf

https://groups.google.com/g/comp.windows.x/c/ukCskm_x410/m/G...

Date: Jul 26, 1992, 12:11:53 PM
Subject: SimCity available via ftp

[...]

SimCity Ordering Information
----------------------------

This version of SimCity will run in demo mode (you can play for a
while, but you can't save your city, and after 5 minutes, something
horrible happens to your city), until you get a license and install a
valid key. To get a license, contact DUX Software at:

[...]

To get the most out of the game:

1. Get a license key!
It's cheap, and you'll get a manual with lots more tips!
2. Save your city often.
You have to have a key to do that, though!
3. Print out your city periodically. But don't kill too many trees.
You can even edit the city map images in the HyperLook drawing editor,
annotate them, print them out, and save them as drawing or EPS files.
4. Don't forget to eat.
Keep in mind the closing times of local restaurants, or keep lots
of munchies on hand.
5. Have fun!
If things are going bad, remember not to take it too seriously,
it's only a simulation!

ChatGPT recalls:

In the early days of the ARPANET, it was indeed prohibited to use the network for commercial purposes. This prohibition was formalized in what was known as the "Acceptable Use Policy" (AUP). The ARPANET, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and managed by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), was intended for research and educational purposes only. The AUP strictly limited the use of the network to activities that supported government-sponsored research and education, explicitly forbidding commercial activities such as advertising or distributing commercial software.

The relevant rule was part of the terms of service for ARPANET users and was enforced to ensure that the network resources were dedicated to academic and research endeavors. This prohibition was reflective of the original intent behind the ARPANET, which was to facilitate communication and collaboration among research institutions and government bodies.

The change in policy came with the commercialization and privatization of the internet in the early 1990s. One significant milestone was the transition from ARPANET to the National Science Foundation Network (NSFNET) in the mid-1980s, which continued to enforce similar restrictions on commercial use. However, by the late 1980s and early 1990s, the growth of the internet and increasing demand for broader access and commercial services led to policy changes.

The key changes occurred in:

1991: The National Science Foundation (NSF) lifted the restrictions on commercial use of the NSFNET. This was largely due to the recognition that commercial entities could benefit from internet access and that their participation could spur further development and innovation. This decision was encapsulated in a revised AUP that allowed for limited commercial use.

1995: The full privatization of the internet occurred when the NSFNET backbone was decommissioned, and the network's infrastructure was handed over to commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs). This effectively marked the end of government restrictions on commercial use of the internet, leading to the rapid expansion of commercial online services, the birth of the World Wide Web, and the internet boom of the 1990s.

These changes were driven by the realization that the potential of the internet extended far beyond academic and research applications, and that commercial involvement was essential for its growth and sustainability. The commercialization of the internet has since had profound impacts on global communication, commerce, and society.

Rick Adams and UUNET

Rick Adams, leveraging his experience at the Seismological Research Labs where he managed the Usenet hub (seismo) and monitored nuclear tests for the government, founded UUNET Technologies in 1987. This company was crucial in transforming the internet from a government and academic tool into a commercial resource. As one of the first commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs), UUNET offered dial-up and other connectivity services, extending internet access to businesses and individuals. By developing one of the first commercial internet backbones and essential infrastructure, UUNET significantly boosted the internet's growth as a commercial resource. Initially focused on Usenet and email services via UUCP, UUNET expanded to high-speed connections, supporting the burgeoning internet industry. The company's acquisition by MFS Communications in 1995, followed by a merger with WorldCom, underscored the growing value of commercial internet services and highlighted Adams' significant role in transforming the internet into a global commercial platform.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Adams_(Internet_pioneer)

Suck.com Net.Moguls Internet Mogul Trading Cards:

https://web.archive.org/web/20181211075708/http://www.suck.c...

Rick Adams, Front:

https://web.archive.org/web/20180802115113im_/http://www.suc...

Rick Adams, Back:

https://web.archive.org/web/20180802143444im_/http://www.suc...