??? 5/11/2002 3:07:40 ??, ?/? "Bill Waugh" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ??????:
> > >----- Original Message ----- >From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 10:07 AM >Subject: Re: [ql-users] Software pirates in our midst? > > >> >> >> Hi all, >> >> I just wanted to point out something to the general QL world at >> large: as you all know, SMSQ/E is being made available publicly, >> under a licence that was discussed at length here. >> This licence is now the current licence for all versions of SMSQ/E. >> >> Under this licence, only appointed resellers may sell the software, >> provided, notably, that a 10 euro payment is made to Tony Tebby >> for each copy sold. >> >> Today, D&D systems are selling the Q40/Q60. These are >> machines that contain SMSQ/E in ROM (they cannot boot >> otherwise). >> >> D&D have NOT even requested to become a software reseller. They >> are NOT paying the licence fees. >> >> This means that these people are currently selling something >> for which they have no licence and which they do not have the right >> to distribute - in other words, counterfeit software. >> Doesn't this mean that they are software pirates? >> >> Even worse, this means that YOU, when you are buying this >> machine with this software, are also using counterfeit software, and >> by extension, when using the Q40/Q60, you are also a software >> pirate. >> >> Do you really want to be? >> >> >> Wolfgang > >I suspect that many of probable Q40i/Q60 purchasers are already owners >of SMSQE for one of the various platforms, If I go ahead and purchase a >Q60 as an upgrade from Q40 I already own SMSQE for that machine, I also >use SMSQE for Aurora and SuperGold Card how many times do you want me to >buy it. >Considering that the original purchase promised features that have taken >years to include and some still not included isn't it time to give a >little to user such as I who have parted with money on trust for so many >years. >C'mon guys it's a hobby and a hobby that includes some nice people, some >very clever people, some understanding traders and some very patient >users and no pirates that I recall. > >There are not enough of us left that we should start an us and them war. > >all the best - Bill > I have to agree with Bill (and Bill Cable) on more than one levels... Apart from what's legal (or not legal), there should be a level of reason among users, vendors and developers. SMSQ/E originally did include upgrades in the price (and that's how I got QPC originally). I do not agree with the term "completely" new operating system because it is not completely new. The fact that some modules change from one platform to the next doesn't mean anything. Totally new means that it does something that wasn't there originally and with the exception of the GD2, as Bill (Waugh) pointed out, everything that wass promised to us was never delivered. Under that assumption SMSQ/E from D&D is indeed an upgrade and not a completely new O/S. Now if TT (or somebody else) shows me an SMSQ/E with meta drivers, memory protection, embeded microGui etc.. .then yes I would consider that a new product but what is now... is not new (maybe better implemented... but most of them were there originally and newer versions just ironed out some bugs)... Now on what's LEGAL, Wolfgang is absolutely right, provided that SMSQ/E is a NEW product which after some thought I don't think it is... just an upgrade... We all have been operating under that assumption else many QPC sales wouldn't be possible right? Phoebus
