Your opinion on abandonware

[DvR]

For those of you who don't know the term:
Abandonware are games and/or programms which are no longer being sold in stores or over the internet, but do still hold copyright laws.. Most of them are from about 1985 - 1995..
Think about games/apps such as Pong, Arkanoid, 4d Stunts, Pkzip, Paratrooper, Lemmings etc..
Because of their copyrights, they are still illegal to distrebute over the internet..
Most companies don't take the effort of pusrueing abandonware sites since they don't do much harm, nor cost them any money..

Now the question is:
A - Do you think distrebution of abandonware should be legalized or remain illegal?
B - Say you would have an urge to play some old game or use an old application out of nostalgia or whatever and would not own it yourself, would you download it from an abandonware site even though it is illegal?

 

[Immortal]

"it doesnt harm anyone"

"It is EVIL, I shall not lower myself to such deeds of piracy!"

The poll reeks of bias, I voted A1 and B1

 

[Shadylookin]

If it's abandoned i see no moral/legal reason why it shouldn't be shared. I see no reason why it shouldn't be legalised if it has been abandoned

 

[DvR]

Originally posted by Immortal
"it doesnt harm anyone"

"It is EVIL, I shall not lower myself to such deeds of piracy!"

The poll reeks of bias, I voted A1 and B1

True, it's a bit biased.. I should have stated it a bit more neutral..

Anyway, the question is quite clear i think..

 

[Perfection]

What someone should do is make nostalgia packs that contain a compilation of the classics, that would make everyone happy!

 

[Hygro]

on A im a bit neutral. on B its definitely b2

voted a1 just for the record

 

[onejayhawk]

If a company wants an abandonware site to stop downloading, they usually do stop. So I am inclined to allow a bit of leeway.

J

 

[funxus]

If the company don't want their program available, then they should take it away. If the company doesn't care, why not let people use it.

 

[Jeratain]

Our opinions do not matter, it is ultimately up to the creators of the games in question.

 

[G-Man]

A1, B2.
I don't think you can force a company or a person to give up something they've done. There's no way to create a law that'll legalize only abandonware without doing the same to other products published at the time.
At the same time, if I'll want to play a game that I can't get in any other way but an abandonware site, either way I won't be paying to the company, and so I don't have a moral problem with downloading it.

 

[ainwood]

Originally posted by Perfection
What someone should do is make nostalgia packs that contain a compilation of the classics, that would make everyone happy!

Plus a bullet-proof dos emulator to actually allow you to run them.





And "C1" - it belongs in computer talk.

This is about to be another great move bought to you by K-D / XIII

 

[EdwardTking]

The whole quoted primary purpose of copyright and patent law is to enable the authors and inventors to make money. If it is not possible to legally purchase the book or game, then continued copyright serves no useful purpose.

My view is that if a copyright or patent owner declines to license their product; the copyright and patent should automatically expire so that the design, logo or product then enters the common public domain.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

If it's no longer available, or sold, or published, or licenced or whatever, then it seems darn silly just to let it die out. Besides, if it turns out to be popular in a retro way, then there can be action taken; a bit of closing the barn door after the horse has bolted, but an option nonetheless.
Besides, it is a small niche market that would not get a lot of sales if it was for cash; the cost of producing, stocking and selling it is probably not worth it, as few will actively buy it, compared to those who will grab it for free in a fit of nostalgia.
There is simply nowhere ye can get a game from the 1980s or early 1990s, particularly if you live on the other side of the world and do not engage in credit card purchases. There are games made by companies that no longer exist, or were never sold in the first place; common sense should apply.

 

[HuckFinn]

I'm not a lawyer but I think copyrights should not allowed to stay dormant... meaning that the copyright period should be shorter and and it should be renewed by a demonstration of the enforcement of the copyright by its owner... and now I don't mean some stupid single $1 license sold to the same entity every 5 years ...

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Originally posted by ainwood
This is about to be another great move bought to you by K-D / XIII

Had I wanted to move it, would have done so at 1st or 2nd replies. Slow...

It's a current issue, and can belong in the OT for serious discussion...