To Al Kossow at bitsavers

[Ian Finder]

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 <geneb at 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.
> 
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