The Pier Shareware 6/The_Pier_Shareware_Number_6_(The_Pier_Exchange)_(1995).iso/037/prodec10.zip/SHAREWAR.TXT

Text File | 1994-01-08 | 12KB | 236 lines

                WHAT IS SHAREWARE?


     Some Definitions:
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      You've probably heard the terms "public domain", "freeware",
      "shareware", and others like them.  Your favorite BBS or disk
      vendor probably has many programs described by one or more of
      these words.  There's a lot of confusion about and between these
      terms, but they actually have specific meanings and implications.
      Once you understand them, you will have a much easier time
      navigating the maze of programs available to you, and
      understanding what your obligations are, or aren't, with each
      type of program.

      Let's start with some basic definitions.

      "Public domain" has a very specific legal meaning.  It means that
      the creator of a work (in this case, software), who had legal
      ownership of that work, has given up ownership and dedicated the
      work "to the public domain".  Once something is in the public
      domain, anyone can use it in any way they choose, and the author
      has no control over the use and cannot demand payment for it.

      If you find a program which the author has explicitly put into
      the public domain, you are free to use it however you see fit
      without paying for the right to use it.  But use care - due to
      the confusion over the meaning of the words, programs are often
      described by authors as being "public domain" when, in fact, they
      are shareware or free, copyrighted software.  To be sure a
      program is public domain, you should look for an explicit
      statement from the author to that effect.

      "Copyrighted" is the opposite of public domain.  A copyrighted
      program is one where the author has asserted his or her legal
      right to control the program's use and distribution by placing
      the legally required copyright notices in the program and
      documentation.  The law gives copyright owners broad rights to
      restrict how their work is distributed, and provides for
      penalties for those who violate these restrictions.  When you
      find a program which is copyrighted, you must use it in
      accordance with the copyright owner's restrictions regarding
      distribution and payment.  Usually, these are clearly stated in
      the program documentation.

      Maintaining a copyright does not necessarily imply charging a
      fee, so it is possible and perfectly legal to have copyrighted
      programs which are distributed free of charge.  The fact that a
      program is free, however, does not mean it is in the public
      domain - though this is a common confusion.

      "Shareware" is copyrighted software which is distributed by
      authors through bulletin boards, on-line services, disk vendors,
      and copies passed among friends.  It is commercial software which
      you are allowed to use and evaluate before paying for it.  This
      makes shareware the ultimate in money back guarantees.

      The Shareware Concept:
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Most money back guarantees work like this:  You pay for the
      product and then have some period of time to try it and see
      whether or not you like it.  If you don't like it or find that it
      doesn't do what you need, you return it (undamaged) and at some
      point - which might take months - you get your money back.  Some
      software companies won't even let you try their product!  In
      order to qualify for a refund, the diskette envelope must have an
      unbroken seal.  With these "licensing" agreements, you only
      qualify for your money back if you haven't tried the product.

      Shareware is very different.  With shareware you get to use it
      for a limited time, without spending a penny.  You are able to
      use the software on your own system(s), in your own special work
      environment, with no sales people looking over your shoulder.  If
      you decide not to continue using it, you throw it away and forget
      all about it.  No paperwork, phone calls, or correspondence to
      waste your valuable time.  If you do continue using it, then -
      and only then - do you pay for it.

      Shareware is a distribution method, NOT a type of software.
      Shareware is produced by accomplished programmers, just like
      retail software.  There is good and bad shareware, just as there
      is good and bad retail software.  The primary difference between
      shareware and retail software is that with shareware you know if
      it's good or bad BEFORE you pay for it.

      As a software user, you benefit because you get to use the
      software to determine whether it meets your needs before you pay
      for it, and authors benefit because they are able to get their
      products into your hands without the hundreds of thousands of
      dollars in expenses it takes to launch a traditional retail
      software product.  There are many programs on the market today
      which would never have become available without the shareware
      marketing method.

      The shareware system and the continued availability of quality
      shareware products depend on your willingness to register and pay
      for the shareware you use.  It's the registration fees you pay
      which allow us to support and continue to develop our products.

      Please show your support for shareware by registering those
      programs you actually use and by passing them on to others.

      Shareware is kept alive by YOUR support!

      The Virus Problem:
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      We've all heard the horror stories about computer viruses.
      Unfortunately, we have also heard lots of conflicting statistics
      and opinions.  When it comes to the virus problem there is a lot
      of confusion among users and even developers.

      The sad truth is that some unscrupulous publishers of anti-virus
      products are using half-truths, overdramatizations, and outright
      fabrication to promote sales of their products.  They delight in
      manipulating statistics to support their marketing efforts.
      While not illegal, these snake-oil tactics are certainly not
      ethical.

      To make matters worse, the media has frequently promoted the
      misinformation promulgated by these unscrupulous individuals
      rather than the straight facts.  While the misinformation may be
      more interesting than the actual facts, the media is not doing
      the computer industry any favors by spreading inaccurate
      information.  To be fair, many newspapers, magazines, and news
      networks are beginning to realize which "virus experts" are
      reliable and which "experts" say whatever is in their own best
      interest.

      One of the most interesting myths that has been promulgated by
      these snake-oil salesmen is that BBSs (Bulletin Board Systems)
      and shareware programs are a major source of virus infections.
      Some corporations are now afraid of shareware and BBS activity
      because of this misinformation.

      In the October 11, 1988 issue of PC Magazine, publisher Bill
      Machrone's editorial was entitled "Shareware or Scareware?".  In
      his article, Bill Machrone points out "The truth is that all
      major viruses to date were transmitted by commercial [retail]
      packages and private mail systems."  That sounds a little
      different than the claims being made by less knowledgeable
      journalists.

      Let's consider for a moment, the distribution differences between
      retail software and shareware software.  Company XYZ releases a
      new version of its retail software product.  At the same time
      company XYZ ships tens of thousands of copies to its retail
      distribution channels, it also ships 30,000 updates to loyal
      users.  Most of those loyal users will receive the update within
      a few days of each other.  This can be a big problem if the
      update happened to be infected with a virus.

      "Not likely", you say?  It has already happened!  Several times!
      There have been seventeen (17) major incidents of virus and
      trojan horse problems in retail software.  Some of these
      incidents affected tens of thousands of users.

      What about shareware?  To date there has been one case of a
      shareware author shipping an infected product.  The virus was
      detected by the disk vendors and the problem was corrected
      immediately.  No users were infected.

      "But it makes sense that programs which are passed around have a
      greater chance of virus infections, doesn't it?"  Think about it.
      Who has the most to lose if viruses were spread by BBSs and
      shareware programs?  The BBS operators, shareware disk vendors
      and the shareware authors, of course.  Because of this, reputable
      BBS operators, disk vendors and shareware authors are very
      careful with the programs they handle.

      Think about it.  Hundreds (even thousands) of BBS operators and
      disk vendors are carefully examining the programs they receive
      and distribute.  Their business depends on it.  This means that
      any given shareware program can go through hundreds (even
      thousands) of checkpoints where the program is carefully
      examined.  If a problem is found, word spreads incredibly fast.
      News travels "on the wires" even faster than the proverbial small
      town gossip.  Programs have disappeared almost overnight as a
      result of this highly efficient communication network.

      If a shareware program has been around for a few months, it has
      been checked for virii and trojan horses many more times than any
      retail software could hope to be checked.  Retail distributors
      don't check the disks they sell.  Even if the publisher checks
      their masters for virii (few do), this is still far less than the
      scrutiny to which shareware programs are subjected.

      There's something else to consider.  Most retail distributors
      have a return policy.  What do they do with packages that are
      returned?  They shrink-wrap them and resell them, of course.  How
      can you be sure that you are the first person to purchase the
      package you just bought at your friendly neighborhood computer
      store?  You can't.  On the other hand, most shareware authors
      erase, reformat, and reduplicate the disks that are returned to
      them.  Which do you think is safer?

      Bill Machrone's article in PC Magazine goes on to say "It's time
      to recognize that there's nothing to fear in shareware.  As a
      distribution medium, it saves you money and helps you try out new
      genres of software with minimum risk."

      Does this mean that we should all start buying shareware instead
      of retail software?  Not at all (although few shareware authors
      would object).  Let's face it, more data has been lost to power
      failures and spilled cups of coffee than all virii, trojan
      horses, and worms combined!  An even bigger threat is plain old
      human error, a mistake, a wrong key press, turning off the power
      while files are open, and so forth.  Accurate information and
      common sense (regular backups) are the best defenses against lost
      data.

      Sure, the virus problem is real.  Virii exist.  But shunning
      shareware is not the answer.  Shareware and BBSs are, quite
      simply, NOT a major source of virus infections.  Some
      corporations have even banned shareware entirely because of fear
      of infections.  This is not only unreasonable, it is also
      expensive.  Think how much they could save in software costs if
      they would only try software before they buy it!

      Is there anything you can do to help protect yourself from virus
      infections?  Absolutely!  Fortunately, the best preventive
      measures are also the least expensive!

      If you need informative, accurate and practical information,
      please read the treatise on "Computer Virus Myths" written by Rob
      Rosenberger and Ross M. Greenberg.  This treatise is available as
      a text file on many BBSs and online services.  It not only gives
      you the facts, it also provides the best overall strategy for
      protecting your computer system.

      Don't let fear stop you from saving money on software.  Don't let
      fear prevent you from trying some of the best software available.
      Shareware is an important market for software.  Take advantage of
      it.  You'll be glad you did!