Magnetic Pages Article | 1993-02-25 | 11KB | 30 lines
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' The following are descriptions of &the various types of freely'distributable software available from &public domain libraries, bulletin'boards, user groups, your friends etc. &In all cases when you receive'software in this way you should check &to see what conditions have been'placed on it's release. Copies of &disks of commercial software,'(software which comes in boxes and is 'bought in shops, such as computer 'games), is NOT allowed to be passed on 'in this way - it is illegal and you
can be arrested for it.' Read any documentation that came 'with the software, any messages shown 'on the screen when it's run and if it 'has menus or buttons check them for an '"About" or similar message. In all 'cases try and work out what conditions 'the author has placed on their work
and respect them.' If you are producing software a 'message when it is first run stating 'it's type and conditions seems the 'most sensible way of ensuring people 'know what you want. Do this even if 'it's just for the public domain and &you don't want anything more'whatsoever to do with the thing. PD 'software that doesn't announce the 'fact it is PD is a nuisance - how can &we be sure it's PD? And games'producers, you dorks, use the mouse 'button for closing condition message &windows - the joystick may be on auto-
' FREEWARE is copyrighted software 'that may also be freely copied and 'passed on to others as with public 'domain software. Restrictions however 'are usually placed on it by the makers 'such as no modifications being allowed 'or no commercial uses without the 'permission of the authors. It may 'also be withdrawn from circulation by 'it's makers if they so wish. Always 'read the documentation of freeware %before using it or passing on a copy.
Shareware...
(Try before you buy software)
& SHAREWARE is an alternative to'normal commercial software. As with 'freeware and public domain software it 'can be copied and passed on to others 'and like freeware it is copyrighted. 'Your use of it however is restricted 'to testing it to see if it's what you 'want. If you find you do want to use &it you are expected to pay the'shareware fee to the author. The &amount of the fee, the author's'address and often their phone number, 'fax number and electronic mail number &is usually included in the'accompanying documentation that came 'with the shareware or in the software 'itself. Payment may also get you an 'upgraded version of the software known 'as the registered version. These 'registered versions are usually not to 'be copied and passed on. Ensure that 'you respect this. And always read the 'documentation of any shareware before testing it or passing on a copy.
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