Shareware is software that has been provided free of distribution charge by its author. Shareware licenses vary greatly, but most allow each person who receives the software to use it for a fair period of time under his own terms and conditions and in his own environment, then decide whether the software will be worth the proposed shareware fee. If the user decides not to compensate the author for the product, he is on his honor not to use it. Some authors also stipulate that all copies in the user’s possession must be erased or given away. If, on the other hand, the user decides to pay the author, he is usually granted the right to use the product and all updates indefinitely.
Unfortunately, shareware has extremely poor profitability. A very low percentage of people who actually use the product contribute. It’s doubtful that anyone has “gotten rich” from shareware, and very few people have made a living from it. In fact, most shareware authors would make less than the minimum wage if they depended on only shareware contributions. In those rare cases where an extremely popular or niche product is produced, the successful author usually “goes commercial,” using his shareware credentials as a springboard.
• Distribution Companies
Some companies “distribute” public domain and shareware software “for a fee.” The quality of the libraries maintained by such “entrepreneurs” tends to be low, and out of date. Many authors, wish to distance themselves from these companies, or stipulate that their work be distributed freely to everyone, meaning no one may charge for these products. These authors will frequently expressly prohibit the sale or profitable distribution of their work.
Still, some companies seem to be distributing COPYRIGHTED software with little or no regard to its origin or the intentions of the author. Legally, copyright holders retain complete control over how and by whom their products may be distributed. Therefore selling or distributing these products against the will of the copyright holders is strictly illegal and ill-advised.
Most of us feel that public services such as GEnie, MacNET, and Compuserve, clearly differ from such companies. They don’t charge a fee for each product or group them so that you must buy in packages, nor do agents of these services actively seek out products to add to their libraries or advertise them for sale. They merely charge for online time to a service in which the users have complete control of what they upload and download. Additionally, this is one of MANY services they provide. Products seem more likely to be the most current available. The author of the product or someone who knows him personally frequently uploads the product. Therefore, these services are frequently excluded from such restrictions.
User groups, such as BMUG and the Boston Computer Society that hold regularly scheduled public meetings, are usually excluded from these restrictions since they are not in business to make a profit, and do not charge as much as a company usually does for their selections. In addition, their libraries seem to be more current and higher quality. BMUG, in fact, is an excellent shareware distribution alternative to companies.
If some company has sold you a product that the author has specified should be absolutely freely distributed, you can help remedy the situation by alerting the copyright holder. In order to keep a copyright valid it is the responsibility of the copyright holder to protect it. YOU have a good reason and excellent incentive to help the author protect his copyright--it enables him to continue to provide quality software to the public, free of any distribution fees.
