Conference 501clb::games

    Thanks, it will be appreciated big time.

    Moderator hat on:
    
    Please do not post information in the notesfile that bypasses copy
    protections on games.  Any such notes will be deleted.
    
    However, what I have seen of discount re-packaging of games, is that
    they typically put the manual, or at least the copy protection codes,
    in a file somewhere in the distribution.  You might want to take a
    close look at the CD to make sure that the information you want isn't
    already there.
    
    jeb
    

	No manual? If there's no manual on the disk (per .-1), in the box,
	or in the jewel case (between the front and the CD, I'd take it back.
	This game is being cleared out everywhere; I've seen it at Electronics
	Boutique bundled with Zork I, II, III, and Zero (full retail boxes)
	for $9.99.

Larry

    I would like to announce that I have released 10 shareware programs,
    each of which has a different single-digit copy-protection code.  As
    you can deduce, this means I have used each of the digits from 0 to 9. 
    Therefore, in accordance with the request in .3, you should not post
    any notes that contain any of these digits.
    
    I am currently working on another series of 26 programs.  Let me
    apologize in advance for the encumbrance this will place on your noting
    activities.
    
    
    				-- edp
    
    
Public key fingerprint:  8e ad 63 61 ba 0c 26 86  32 0a 7d 28 db e7 6f 75
To find PGP, read note 2688.4 in Humane::IBMPC_Shareware.

    I'm not making the rules - just enforcing them.  There is concern that
    by publishing copy protection information in a public or semi-public
    forum, software piracy is being facilitated.  Consequently, to use
    Digital's broad brush stroke, storing copy protection codes in Digital
    Notesfiles is not allowed, in the remote chance that it opens the
    company up to prosecution by software manufacturers.  This is the same
    general policy of not placing derogatory information, truthful or not,
    about other businesses in the chance that it might provide a cause for
    a libel suit against the company.
    
    In no way am I judging, or accusing anyone of piracy.  This is just the
    general policy, and in the interest of keeping this Notesfile open, I
    am enforcing the policy as I understand it.
    
    Provide tangible evidence from Digital legal that copy protection codes
    are acceptable material to place in Notesfiles, and I'll allow it. 
    Until then, you'll have to start your own Notesfile or create a web
    page for sharing the codes, and accept personal responsibility for the
    consequences, real or imagined.
    
    Also, note 1.8 makes it very clear that certain things are not
    permitted in this conference, sharing of copy protection codes being
    one of them.  As has been mentioned many times and in many conferences,
    freedom of speech doesn't apply to conferences conducted on
    company-owned hardware.
    
    jeb
    

    Re .6:
    
    > I'm not making the rules - just enforcing them.
    
    First, I wasn't complaining about the rules, just making fun of them.
    
    Second, you aren't just making the rules.  You are interpreting Digital
    policy.  Your interpretation is subject to error.
    
    > There is concern that by publishing copy protection information in a
    > public or semi-public forum, software piracy is being facilitated.
    
    "Facilitated"?  By telling somebody how to turn a computer on, I am
    facilitating whatever crime they might commit.  Perhaps we should
    prohibit giving people any assistance using computers in any way.  In
    this case, the author stated they purchased the product.  There's no
    reason to believe any criminal or tortious activity would occur.
    
    > . . . freedom of speech doesn't apply to conferences conducted on
    > company-owned hardware.
    
    Nobody said anything about freedom of speech.
    
            
    				-- edp
    
    
Public key fingerprint:  8e ad 63 61 ba 0c 26 86  32 0a 7d 28 db e7 6f 75
To find PGP, read note 2688.4 in Humane::IBMPC_Shareware.
                                                 

    >You are interpreting Digital policy.  Your interpretation is subject to
    >error.
    
    I didn't say I was perfect.  I'm just the current moderator.  And I do
    the best I can.  If you legitimately contest a decision, let me know. 
    If you'd just like to ramble about it in the conference, go for it. 
    I'll tackle a good debate anytime.  But I need to know whether we're
    engaging in discourse, or trying to solve a problem.
    
    >In this case, the author stated they purchased the product.  There's no
    >reason to believe any criminal or tortious activity would occur.
    
    I didn't imply any such thing nor accuse the author of note .0 of
    anything.  However, if copy protection codes are posted in the notes
    conference, then someone who HAS pirated the software can use those
    posted codes to use the pirated software.
    
    The policy of not allowing copy protection codes to be posted was set
    in note 1.8 in May of 1993.  I agree with that policy, and so I am
    continuing to enforce it.
    
    >"Facilitated"?  By telling somebody how to turn a computer on, I am
    >facilitating whatever crime they might commit.  
    
    Thats splitting hairs.  The issue at hand, and the policy in question
    are much more closely related.
    
    I can hypothetically post all the copy protection codes in the
    conference and "trust" that only people who legitimately own the
    software but have lost their manuals will use them.  Thats a bit of a
    stretch for anyone.  And it occurs rarely enough that I don't believe
    it seriously jeopordizes the usefulness of the conference to prohibit
    it.
    
    Re: free speech - no one said anything about copyright either.  My
    point is that, whether there is a copyright or not, there is a
    particular type of information that may not be posted in this
    conference.  It has nothing to do with copyright, or free speech.  Its,
    as you mentioned, my interpretation of corporate policy.
    
    jeb
    
    [uh, anyone played any neat games lately?  :-)  ]
    

    Re .8:
    
    > [That's] splitting hairs.
    
    So is your policy.
    
    
    				-- edp
    
    
Public key fingerprint:  8e ad 63 61 ba 0c 26 86  32 0a 7d 28 db e7 6f 75
To find PGP, read note 2688.4 in Humane::IBMPC_Shareware.