Subject: Re: System 5.04? ... and the status of Apple system software
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From: Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>
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Date: Sat, 01 Jul 2000 03:28:50 -0500
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Roy and/or Janet Miller wrote:
> 
> Cturley2 wrote:
> 
> > You can download the complete GS/OS v5.04
> > disk set by ftp from the following
> > URL:
> >
> > ftp://angus.ind.wpi.edu//pub/Apple2/devworld/sys.soft/gs.system.5.0.4/
> >
> 
> I'm really not trying to rekindle "The Fight" here,
> but I thought Apple didn't
> allow their system software to be distributed
> by anyone but themselves. Of course,
> I could be mistaken, that has happened once or twice in my life....
> 

     Rough. Don't let it get you down.

     The situation with Apple's Apple II system software is this: it is not
licensed. When asked if anyone has a valid license to distribute Apple's
Apple II software, the response from Apple was not "yes", it was that Apple
had not sent out cancellation notices.

     Technically, anyone who distributes Apple's Apple II system software
beyond the small scale user-to-user exchanges of diskettes normally allowed
is in "violation" of Apple's copyrights.

     On the other hand, it is obvious that Apple knows that its A2 system
software is being included in new commercial distributions as well as being
made available for download from various net sites. (Just as, of course,
Apple is aware that A2 Appleworks is being distributed and that its IIgs ROM
is being distributed to make access to IIgs emulators, such as Bernie,
possible for Mac and PC users.)

     Apple could easily end these public distributions, _if_ it wished to.
Just an official 'cease and desist' posting on Csa2 would probably be enough.

     That Apple has not sought to end the distributions is a sufficient
indicator that Apple does not object to them.

     So, Bernie will not need to be scrapped because users are prohibited
from downloading or copyting IIgs ROM code. Mike, Joe, the guys at MyEsource,
..., and other developers selling software do not need to be concerned,
either. The same goes for net sites which offer Apple's system software for
free download.



Rubywand