Does anyone still use the old DOS BBS programs (doors and whatnot) anymore with Synchronet? Do they still even work properly?

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Sat Jun 11 2022 03:19 pm

Does anyone still use the old DOS BBS programs (doors and whatnot) anymore with Synchronet? Do they still even work properly?

Is this a serious question? There isn't much choice, since many popular BBS door games are still only available in a DOS version. I think most BBSes still run DOS doors (if not directly, some BBSes now connect to game servers that run DOS doors).

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

The Millionaire wrote to All <=-

Does anyone still use the old DOS BBS programs (doors and
whatnot) anymore with Synchronet? Do they still even work
properly?

Yes, I have dozens of DOS doors running fine here, with the underlying
OS being Linux. I also occasionally use terminal programs like Telix, Procomm, Terminate within DOSBox, again running on Linux. They work
fine.


... Internal Error: The system has been taken over by sheep at line 19960
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
■ Synchronet ■ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Did anyone ever chip in for those beerware ones that were out there?

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Sat Jun 11 2022 05:59 pm

Did anyone ever chip in for those beerware ones that were out there?

What is "beerware"? I've never heard of that. There was plenty of shareware that I had seen.

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Sat Jun 11 2022 05:59 pm

What is "beerware"? I've never heard of that. There was plenty of shareware that I had seen.

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

There was only a few out there. The author would ask the person who registers it to donate enough money to purchase a case of beer. I know it was pretty silly.

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

There was others like cheepware, freeware, and donationware.

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Sat Jun 11 2022 05:59 pm

Did anyone ever chip in for those beerware ones that were out there?

$ The Millionaire $

Overwelmingly, the games that can still be registered and the author contacted to give money people do so. People still actively try to register LORD, and the people that own it don't have an easy way to do and they are frustrated.

Problem is, most stuff is 25+ years old and none of the contact information is good anymore. So, as much as I would like to buy the author a beer I can't.

I think Synchronet is technically beerware - DM has a donate button, I *think* I tossed DM beer money in the past, but if not this was a good reminder :)
---------------------------------------------------------
Sysop of Desert Rats Sanctuary --- https://bbs.kn6q.org

There was also cardware.

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Sat Jun 11 2022 05:59 pm

Overwelmingly, the games that can still be registered and the author contacted to give money people do so. People still actively try to register LORD, and the people that own it don't have an easy way to do and they are frustrated.

Problem is, most stuff is 25+ years old and none of the contact information is good anymore. So, as much as I would like to buy the author a beer I can't.

I think Synchronet is technically beerware - DM has a donate button, I *think* I tossed DM beer money in the past, but if not this was a good reminder :)
---------------------------------------------------------
Sysop of Desert Rats Sanctuary --- https://bbs.kn6q.org

---
þ Synchronet þ Desert Rats Sanctuary --- https://bbs.kn6q.org

I never thought about it that way. Could very well be true in your case and point here.

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

There's also abandonware too.

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

What was your favourite DOS BBS addon?

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Nightfox to The Millionaire on Sat Jun 11 2022 10:54 pm

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Sat Jun 11 2022 05:59 pm

Did anyone ever chip in for those beerware ones that were out there?

What is "beerware"? I've never heard of that. There was plenty of shareware that I had seen.

It's technically just donationware. Basically, author would say it's freeware but if you liked the program and would like to buy them a beer send $5 to whatever address, so a few people called it beerware.
---------------------------------------------------------
Sysop of Desert Rats Sanctuary --- https://bbs.kn6q.org

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Sun Jun 12 2022 01:25 pm

What was your favourite DOS BBS addon?

I was pretty happy with Synchronet Match Maker for a while. Super popular at the time.
--
digital man (rob)

Sling Blade quote #22:
Karl: I don't reckon you have to go with women to be a good father to a boy. Norco, CA WX: 84.0°F, 50.0% humidity, 12 mph E wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
---
■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Sun Jun 12 2022 01:25 pm

I was pretty happy with Synchronet Match Maker for a while. Super popular at the time.
--
digital man (rob)

Sling Blade quote #22:
Karl: I don't reckon you have to go with women to be a good father to a boy. Norco, CA WX: 84.0øF, 50.0% humidity, 12 mph E wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

Well apart from Synchronet was there any others? :-)

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to Digital Man on Sun Jun 12 2022 02:09 pm

Well apart from Synchronet was there any others? :-)

You asked about DOS BBS addons. <shrug> I used a lot of them, door games obviously, and FidoNet mailers (FrontDoor, InterMail, D'bridge) and tossers (e.g. GEcho) before I had my own.
--
digital man (rob)

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #75:
SSJS = Server-side JavaScript
Norco, CA WX: 81.5°F, 52.0% humidity, 9 mph SSE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs ---
■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Sun Jun 12 2022 01:25 pm

What was your favourite DOS BBS addon?

I ran RemoteAccess in the 90s, and I had found a file lister/tagger door and a file archive viewer door for RemoteAccess that I remember thinking were fairly cool.

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to Digital Man on Sun Jun 12 2022 02:09 pm

You asked about DOS BBS addons. <shrug> I used a lot of them, door games obviously, and FidoNet mailers (FrontDoor, InterMail, D'bridge) and tossers (e.g. GEcho) before I had my own.
--
digital man (rob)

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #75:
SSJS = Server-side JavaScript
Norco, CA WX: 81.5øF, 52.0% humidity, 9 mph SSE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

I used Frontdoor and Fmail.

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

I ran RemoteAccess in the 90s, and I had found a file lister/tagger door
and a file archive viewer door for RemoteAccess that I remember thinking were fairly cool.

Could you elaborate? I'm running an EleBBS which runs RA doors. I'm looking for some decent options for files and most don't work properly or are
crippled.

---
Shurato, Sysop Shurato's Heavenly Sphere (telnet, pop3, ftp, nntp)
(ports 23, 110, 21, 119) shsbbs.ddns.net (shoutcast at 8000)


*** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
---
* Origin: (1:340/1101)
■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Xerxes to Nightfox on Sun Jun 12 2022 04:03 pm

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Nightfox to The Millionaire on Sat Jun 11 2022 10:54 pm

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Sat Jun 11 2022 05:59 pm

Did anyone ever chip in for those beerware ones that were out there?

What is "beerware"? I've never heard of that. There was plenty of shareware that I had seen.

It's technically just donationware. Basically, author would say it's freeware but if you liked the program and would like to buy them a beer send $5 to whatever address, so a few people called it beerware.

beerware has been around since forever. someone probably make it up as a joke against shareware. i can't believe a technical person in bbsing never heard about beerware
---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Martin Kazmaier to Nightfox on Sun Jun 12 2022 08:36 pm

Could you elaborate? I'm running an EleBBS which runs RA doors. I'm looking for some decent options for files and most don't work properly or are crippled.

For RA, I had a file lister I liked called WarezTag. And I used an archive viewer called Online Archive Master 6.0 (from Dykstra Software). I think both were shareware though, and I don't remember if they had any limitations before being registered.

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

My faves were the ice programs by Jeremy Landvoigt. They were the most coolest out there. :-)

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Mon Jun 13 2022 06:26 pm

My faves were the ice programs by Jeremy Landvoigt. They were the most coolest out there. :-)

I liked those too.
My SlyEdit message editor has 2 UI modes, and one was modeled after IceEdit (the other mode was modeled after DCT Edit).

I also liked IceChat, the user-sysop split-screen chat door. One of its features was a hotkey for the sysop to simulate line noise.

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Mon Jun 13 2022 06:26 pm

I liked those too.
My SlyEdit message editor has 2 UI modes, and one was modeled after IceEdit (the other mode was modeled after DCT Edit).

I also liked IceChat, the user-sysop split-screen chat door. One of its features was a hotkey for the sysop to simulate line noise.

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Too bad there is no IceChat clone out there that runs on Synchronet BBS. :-(

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to Nightfox on Sun Jun 12 2022 11:24 am

There's also abandonware too.

"abandonware" is a gray area. It really just means that anyone can do whatever they like with the program, because the author no longer maintains it, and there's no risk of the author coming after you.

_Technically_ if you crack the program, or use someone else's license you're still "stealing".

DaiTengu

... Save fuel. Get cremated with a friend.

---
■ Synchronet ■ War Ensemble BBS - The sport is war, total war - warensemble.com

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to Nightfox on Tue Jun 14 2022 09:59 am

Too bad there is no IceChat clone out there that runs on Synchronet BBS. :-(

IceChat runs on Synchronet BBS already. <shrug>
--
digital man (rob)

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #53:
NAPLPS = North American Presentation Layer Protocol Syntax (ANSI X3.110)
Norco, CA WX: 77.8°F, 53.0% humidity, 7 mph E wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
---
■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: DaiTengu to The Millionaire on Tue Jun 14 2022 12:23 pm

"abandonware" is a gray area. It really just means that anyone can do whatever they like with the program, because the author no longer maintains it, and there's no risk of the author coming after you.

_Technically_ if you crack the program, or use someone else's license you're still "stealing".

If the author can't be found or contacted though, it would be difficult to register the software..

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to Nightfox on Tue Jun 14 2022 09:59 am

IceChat runs on Synchronet BBS already. <shrug>
--
digital man (rob)

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #53:
NAPLPS = North American Presentation Layer Protocol Syntax (ANSI X3.110) Norco, CA WX: 77.8øF, 53.0% humidity, 7 mph E wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

When I ran IceChat on Synchronet BBS it would freeze up for some reason or another. <sighs>

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to Nightfox on Tue Jun 14 2022 09:59 am

IceChat runs on Synchronet BBS already. <shrug>
--
digital man (rob)

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #53:
NAPLPS = North American Presentation Layer Protocol Syntax (ANSI X3.110) Norco, CA WX: 77.8øF, 53.0% humidity, 7 mph E wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

Can you post your settings on the wiki.synchro.net site please? Thanks.

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Nightfox to DaiTengu on Tue Jun 14 2022 12:15 pm

"abandonware" is a gray area. It really just means that anyone can
do whatever they like with the program, because the author no longer
maintains it, and there's no risk of the author coming after you.

_Technically_ if you crack the program, or use someone else's
license you're still "stealing".

If the author can't be found or contacted though, it would be difficult to register the software..

correct. But if the author suddenly appeared after 30 years of not being able to be reached, they could demand payment and would likely win litigation over it.

DaiTengu

... One of the minor pleasures in life is to be slightly ill.

---
■ Synchronet ■ War Ensemble BBS - The sport is war, total war - warensemble.com

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Digital Man to The Millionaire on Tue Jun 14 2022 12:13 pm

Too bad there is no IceChat clone out there that runs on Synchronet
BBS. :-(

IceChat runs on Synchronet BBS already. <shrug>

Years ago, I had been using IceChat with the Windows verison of Synchronet, and I noticed when chatting with a few users, IceChat would suddenly exit after some amount of time. I don't know why it was doing that.. Now that I've moved my BBS to Linux, I'd be curious if IceChat is more stable in dosemu on Linux.

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to Digital Man on Tue Jun 14 2022 01:32 pm

When I ran IceChat on Synchronet BBS it would freeze up for some reason or another. <sighs>

IceChat ran fine for me when I used it, but one issue I saw was that it would suddenly quit at seemingly random times when chatting with a user.

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to Digital Man on Tue Jun 14 2022 02:21 pm

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to Nightfox on Tue Jun 14 2022 09:59 am

IceChat runs on Synchronet BBS already. <shrug>
--
digital man (rob)

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #53:
NAPLPS = North American Presentation Layer Protocol Syntax (ANSI X3.110) Norco, CA WX: 77.8°F, 53.0% humidity, 7 mph E wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

Can you post your settings on the wiki.synchro.net site please? Thanks.

I don't have it currently installed, but I'll try to remember to give it a shot sometime and document what worked.
--
digital man (rob)

Synchronet "Real Fact" #29:
Rob Swindell first called BBSes (at 300bps) with an Apple II computer in 1982 Norco, CA WX: 80.0°F, 53.0% humidity, 14 mph S wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
---
■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to Digital Man on Tue Jun 14 2022 01:32 pm

IceChat ran fine for me when I used it, but one issue I saw was that it would suddenly quit at seemingly random times when chatting with a user.

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

That was strange.

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Digital Man to The Millionaire on Tue Jun 14 2022 12:13 pm

Years ago, I had been using IceChat with the Windows verison of Synchronet, and I noticed when chatting with a few users, IceChat would suddenly exit after some amount of time. I don't know why it was doing that.. Now that I've moved my BBS to Linux, I'd be curious if IceChat is more stable in dosemu on Linux.

Nightfox

---
þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

That's pretty weird.

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to Digital Man on Tue Jun 14 2022 02:21 pm

I don't have it currently installed, but I'll try to remember to give it a shot sometime and document what worked.
--
digital man (rob)

Synchronet "Real Fact" #29:
Rob Swindell first called BBSes (at 300bps) with an Apple II computer in 1982 Norco, CA WX: 80.0øF, 53.0% humidity, 14 mph S wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs

Ok thanks. :-)

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Nightfox to Digital Man on Tue Jun 14 2022 02:00 pm

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Digital Man to The Millionaire on Tue Jun 14 2022 12:13 pm

Too bad there is no IceChat clone out there that runs on Synchronet
BBS. :-(

IceChat runs on Synchronet BBS already. <shrug>

Years ago, I had been using IceChat with the Windows verison of Synchronet, and I noticed when chatting with a few users, IceChat would suddenly exit after some amount of time. I don't know why it was doing that.. Now that I've moved my BBS to Linux, I'd be curious if IceChat is more stable in dosemu on Linux.

i didnt have that problem with icechat. i didnt use it for a looong time though syncchat isnt bad. try that. it doesnt have a page the sysop feature but you could rig something
---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

--- NIGHTFOX wrote --- Re: Old DOS BBS Programs By:
DaiTengu to The Millionaire on Tue Jun 14 2022

_Technically_ if you crack the program, or use someone else's

license

you're still "stealing".

If the author can't be found or contacted though, it would be difficult to register the software..

Oh no, not the MajorBBS weenies again! (: (:

I tried to help them, but they are beyond all help.

"THIS STUFF IS WORTH SOMETHING! YOU'RE STEALING!"

Feh.


---
* TARDIS BBS - Home of QUARKware * telnet bbs.cortex-media.info

--- THE MILLIONAIRE wrote ---

Rob Swindell first called BBSes (at 300bps) with an Apple II computer in 1982

Heh. I remember buying an AppleCat II modem. Cost me about 3 weeks pay at Long John Silvers! Gross.

I first called a BBS on a VT102.


---
* TARDIS BBS - Home of QUARKware * telnet bbs.cortex-media.info

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: DaiTengu to Nightfox on Tue Jun 14 2022 04:07 pm

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Nightfox to DaiTengu on Tue Jun 14 2022 12:15 pm

"abandonware" is a gray area. It really just means that anyone can
do whatever they like with the program, because the author no longer
maintains it, and there's no risk of the author coming after you.

_Technically_ if you crack the program, or use someone else's
license you're still "stealing".

If the author can't be found or contacted though, it would be difficult to register the software..

correct. But if the author suddenly appeared after 30 years of not being able to be reached, they could demand payment and would likely win litigation over it.

yeah you're right. people shouldn't rationalize stealing.
maybe the guy never wanted it out.

i steal because i steal
---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: the doctor to NIGHTFOX on Wed Jun 15 2022 12:11 pm

you're still "stealing".

If the author can't be found or contacted though, it would be difficult to register the software..

Oh no, not the MajorBBS weenies again! (: (:

I tried to help them, but they are beyond all help.

"THIS STUFF IS WORTH SOMETHING! YOU'RE STEALING!"

and the guy that claims to own the rights to majorbbs doesn't own the rights. ---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: the doctor to NIGHTFOX on Wed Jun 15 2022 12:11 pm

Oh no, not the MajorBBS weenies again! (: (:

I tried to help them, but they are beyond all help.

"THIS STUFF IS WORTH SOMETHING! YOU'RE STEALING!"

Feh.

eh? what does this have to do with the price of tea in China?

All I said is that "abandonware" should it suddenly not become "abandoned", could land end-users in legal trouble. The chances are slim, but not zero (and I don't know of a case where it's actually happened).

If I was to advocate for anything, it'd be a much shorter duration for the expiration of software copyrights than the current "author's life + 70 years"

DaiTengu

... I can't promise anything but I can promise 100%.

---
■ Synchronet ■ War Ensemble BBS - The sport is war, total war - warensemble.com

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: MRO to DaiTengu on Wed Jun 15 2022 06:36 am

yeah you're right. people shouldn't rationalize stealing.
maybe the guy never wanted it out.

i steal because i steal

I've been listed in my fair share of NFO files over the years.

DaiTengu

... Death is hereditary

---
■ Synchronet ■ War Ensemble BBS - The sport is war, total war - warensemble.com

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: DaiTengu to the doctor on Wed Jun 15 2022 08:14 am

(and I don't know of a case where it's actually happened).

If I was to advocate for anything, it'd be a much shorter duration for the expiration of software copyrights than the current "author's life + 70 years"

there's also many gray areas. like what did the author use to develop it? did he use some type of kit he licensed? now you got to deal with that issue.

i think it's okay to steal as long as you can't get ahold of the guy and nobody gets hurt. then if the guy comes back, make it beer ware.
---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

--- MRO wrote --- Re: Old DOS BBS Programs By: the doctor to NIGHTFOX on Wed

and the guy that claims to own the rights to majorbbs doesn't own the rights.

Which one? There are two of them.



---
* TARDIS BBS - Home of QUARKware * telnet bbs.cortex-media.info

--- DAITENGU wrote --- Re: Old DOS BBS Programs By:

eh? what does this have to do with the price of tea in China?

All I said is that "abandonware" should it suddenly not become
"abandoned", could land end-users in legal trouble. The chances are slim, but not zero (and I don't know of a case where it's actually happened).

If I was to advocate for anything, it'd be a much shorter duration for the expiration of software copyrights than the current "author's life + 70 years"

It could, but I think it's very unlikely. I agree with you about copyright.

It's only so long to keep Mickey Mouse out the public domain.

What was annoying me, where the shreaking claims of theft from folks.

"I made $700 a copy for whatever 30 years ago, so quit using it. I'm going to threaten you with a lawsuit!"

"Can I buy a copy for a reasonable amount?"

"No"

"Can |I buy a copy at full price?"

"No. I'm going to sue you. Good day."

It's even more annoying when the guy who claims to have bought the Worldcom assets does it on their behalf.

I admit this doesn't directly tie in with what you were saying, but I like bitching about it.


---
* TARDIS BBS - Home of QUARKware * telnet bbs.cortex-media.info

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: the doctor to NIGHTFOX on Wed Jun 15 2022 12:11 pm

and the guy that claims to own the rights to majorbbs doesn't own the rights. ---
þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Wow! Incredible!

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: MRO to Nightfox on Tue Jun 14 2022 10:52 pm

i didnt have that problem with icechat. i didnt use it for a looong time though syncchat isnt bad. try that. it doesnt have a page the sysop feature but you could rig something

It didn't take long for IceChat to suddenly quit, it was just a few minutes.
I should give SyncChat a try.


When I used RemoteAccess, RA had a sysop key to break into chat with the user, and RA would let you configure a custom chat utility to run when you did that, and I had IceChat set up for that, so it would run for break into chat without the page feature. I don't think Synchronet has the ability to configure an external sysop-user chat with a hotkey like that.

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: the doctor to NIGHTFOX on Wed Jun 15 2022 12:11 pm

If the author can't be found or contacted though, it would be
difficult to register the software..

Oh no, not the MajorBBS weenies again! (: (:

I tried to help them, but they are beyond all help.

"THIS STUFF IS WORTH SOMETHING! YOU'RE STEALING!"

Feh.

I wasn't complaining about stealing. And I never ran MajorBBS..

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

--- NIGHTFOX wrote --- Re: Old DOS BBS Programs By:

I wasn't complaining about stealing. And I never ran MajorBBS..

I didn't mean to imply either thing. (:


---
* TARDIS BBS - Home of QUARKware * telnet bbs.cortex-media.info

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: MRO to the doctor on Wed Jun 15 2022 07:36 am

and the guy that claims to own the rights to majorbbs doesn't own the rights. ---

Is this story documented anywhere? I love me some good old-timey BBS drama, but don't want to put someone through having to explain it all to me.

DaiTengu

... Hell hath no fury like a bureaucrat scorned.

---
■ Synchronet ■ War Ensemble BBS - The sport is war, total war - warensemble.com

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Nightfox to MRO on Wed Jun 15 2022 09:57 am

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: MRO to Nightfox on Tue Jun 14 2022 10:52 pm
When I used RemoteAccess, RA had a sysop key to break into chat with the user, and RA would let you configure a custom chat utility to run when you did that, and I had IceChat set up for that, so it would run for break into chat without the page feature. I don't think Synchronet has the ability to configure an external sysop-user chat with a hotkey like that.

That's how my RemoteAccess is now. I used IceChat for that when I was running it in the 90's, and still use it today. I never remembered it dropping out like that, but I was using Lantastic with dos with 6 nodes. I haven't used it enough lately to see if it acts up on windows 10

SysOp: C.G. Learn, AKA: DesotoFireflite
Valhalla Home Services! - (Synchronet) - bbs.valhallabbs.com:23
A Gamers Paradise - Over 250 Registered Online Game Doors!

--- Don't eat the yellow snow!
■ Synchronet ■ Valhalla Home Services ■ USA ■ http://valhalla.synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: DesotoFireflite to Nightfox on Wed Jun 15 2022 03:15 pm

That's how my RemoteAccess is now. I used IceChat for that when I was running it in the 90's, and still use it today. I never remembered it dropping out like that, but I was using Lantastic with dos with 6 nodes. I haven't used it enough lately to see if it acts up on windows 10

Yeah, IceChat always worked fine on DOS with RemoteAccess for me in the 90s. I was saying it exits unexpectedly when I've used it on a modern PC with Synchronet.

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Nightfox to DesotoFireflite on Wed Jun 15 2022 01:14 pm

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: DesotoFireflite to Nightfox on Wed Jun 15 2022 03:15 pm

That's how my RemoteAccess is now. I used IceChat for that when I
was running it in the 90's, and still use it today. I never
remembered it dropping out like that, but I was using Lantastic with
dos with 6 nodes. I haven't used it enough lately to see if it acts
up on windows 10

Yeah, IceChat always worked fine on DOS with RemoteAccess for me in the 90s. I was saying it exits unexpectedly when I've used it on a modern PC with Synchronet.

Might be a command lind switch thing, but odds are it's windows related. I haven't noticed anything acting up with it, but honestly, I don't know when was the last time I did a sysop chat on any of my systems. I run it on both RemoteAccess, and GAP, haven't tried it yet on Synchronet, but may play with it some. I'll let you know if I notice anything.

SysOp: C.G. Learn, AKA: DesotoFireflite
Valhalla Home Services! - (Synchronet) - bbs.valhallabbs.com:23
A Gamers Paradise - Over 250 Registered Online Game Doors!

--- Don't eat the yellow snow!
■ Synchronet ■ Valhalla Home Services ■ USA ■ http://valhalla.synchro.net

MRO wrote to DaiTengu <=-

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: DaiTengu to the doctor on Wed Jun 15 2022 08:14 am

(and I don't know of a case where it's actually happened).

If I was to advocate for anything, it'd be a much shorter duration for the expiration of software copyrights than the current "author's life + 70 years"

there's also many gray areas. like what did the author use to
develop it? did he use some type of kit he licensed? now you got
to deal with that issue.

Doesn't have much (if anything) to do with anything. In the legal
world, there is very little that is "gray". This certainly is not.

i think it's okay to steal as long as you can't get ahold of the
guy and nobody gets hurt. then if the guy comes back, make it
beer ware.

You're wrong. It's not okay to steal, regardless of how easy it is for
you to rationalize it.


... Ignorance can be cured. Stupid is forever.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
■ Synchronet ■ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: DaiTengu to MRO on Wed Jun 15 2022 11:31 am

and the guy that claims to own the rights to majorbbs doesn't own
the rights. ---

Is this story documented anywhere? I love me some good old-timey BBS drama, but don't want to put someone through having to explain it all to me.

I don't know - but it reminds me of the guy who ran Commodore USA a few years ago (he passed away a couple of years ago).

He couldn't figure out who owned the IP/Copyrights to Commodore, so he just started selling Commodore branded stuff until somebody sued him (and they did).

What's crazy is he worked out a licencing deal with the company that sued him, but then he got sued *again* by someone else saying they didn't own the rights either, they were a licencee that couldn't sub-licence.

When the dust settled from the lawsuits, I don't think he had to pay anybody anything and basically owned the Commodore name and some of the tradmarks, mostly because nobody used them in a long time and he called dibs.

So yea, appearantly you can just claim to own something until someone sues you, lol.
---------------------------------------------------------
Sysop of Desert Rats Sanctuary --- https://bbs.kn6q.org

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: the doctor to MRO on Wed Jun 15 2022 04:50 pm

--- MRO wrote --- Re: Old DOS BBS Programs By: the doctor to NIGHTFOX on Wed

and the guy that claims to own the rights to majorbbs doesn't own the rights.

Which one? There are two of them.

that's another thing.

there's rick and then there's netvillage.
---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Nightfox to MRO on Wed Jun 15 2022 09:57 am

When I used RemoteAccess, RA had a sysop key to break into chat with the user, and RA would let you configure a custom chat utility to run when you did that, and I had IceChat set up for that, so it would run for break into chat without the page feature. I don't think Synchronet has the ability to configure an external sysop-user chat with a hotkey like that.

no it doesnt, but just take over the console and put them in
---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: DaiTengu to MRO on Wed Jun 15 2022 11:31 am

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: MRO to the doctor on Wed Jun 15 2022 07:36 am

and the guy that claims to own the rights to majorbbs doesn't own the rights. ---

Is this story documented anywhere? I love me some good old-timey BBS drama, but don't want to put someone through having to explain it all to me.

DaiTengu

you'll have to google it and then go read multiple forums and there's some stuff on textfiles.com

also the majorbbs guys redid their forums so you might be able to find some it on archive.org

time stryker killed himself, his wife sold the company. then a lender got it. then a bank got it. then questman claimed to have got the rights from either the bank or the wife. i can't remember.

but then netvillage claimed to have the rights. netvillage still sells it. questman won't sue them. questman claims to have spent a fortune on the rights.
why won't he sue them? he's furious about netvillage selling it.
questman was a developer of mediocre bbs addons for another bbs software.

if you see electro around he would know the history better than i.

as time goes on, links disappear and it gets harder to gather information.
---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Xerxes to DaiTengu on Thu Jun 16 2022 01:00 am

When the dust settled from the lawsuits, I don't think he had to pay anybody anything and basically owned the Commodore name and some of the tradmarks, mostly because nobody used them in a long time and he called dibs.

So yea, appearantly you can just claim to own something until someone sues you, lol.

he also died, right?
---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: MRO to Xerxes on Thu Jun 16 2022 05:53 am

When the dust settled from the lawsuits, I don't think he had to pay
anybody anything and basically owned the Commodore name and some of
the tradmarks, mostly because nobody used them in a long time and he
called dibs.

So yea, appearantly you can just claim to own something until someone
sues
you, lol.

he also died, right?

He (Barry Altman) did die after all this, yes, back in 2012 and it fell apart right afterwords. I had a C64x case and it was really nice, I am curious what they would have come up with. Aside from the C64x their other stuff was mostly over-priced OEM computers they stuck a Commodore or Amiga logo on (well that and a Commodore themed Linux distro).

A company in England now claims to have bought the Commodore name and trademarks in 2015. They OEMed a couple of Andriod phones and haven't done anything since.
---------------------------------------------------------
Sysop of Desert Rats Sanctuary --- https://bbs.kn6q.org

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Xerxes to MRO on Thu Jun 16 2022 10:04 am

He (Barry Altman) did die after all this, yes, back in 2012 and it fell apart right afterwords. I had a C64x case and it was really nice, I am curious what they would have come up with. Aside from the C64x their other stuff was mostly over-priced OEM computers they stuck a Commodore or Amiga logo on (well that and a Commodore themed Linux distro).

i know another sysop who got just the case.

i still have the commodoreOS isos. it's not worth using.
---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

I don't know - but it reminds me of the guy who ran Commodore USA a few years ago (he passed away a couple of years ago).

He couldn't figure out who owned the IP/Copyrights to Commodore, so he just started selling Commodore branded stuff until somebody sued him
(and they did).

...

So yea, appearantly you can just claim to own something until someone
sues you, lol.

I liked the old copyright requirement where you had to re-register your copyright every 20 years or so. If a property wasn't valuable to the original author, it reverted to the public domain. Neatly solves the problem of Abandonware.

If you consider computer games as art (which I do), the current copyright regime adds a whole extra layer of challenge. Unlike a painting or a poem, you also need the platform the game is played on to be preserved, plus deal with old copyright protection measures. Preservation is a challenge, and you also end up where who still owns the copyright may be obscured. Suddenly you are facing potentially multiple court cases (like in your example) with different claimants.

Even with the library and preservation carve-out under the DMCA, that still means going to court and using it as a defence, which just might not be worth it for most cases.

I'm always reminded of Emily Dickinson's poems. Apparently she had wanted her poems destroyed after she died. Does that mean you shouldn't read her poetry? Does that mean that preservation of art takes precedence over the artists wishes?

-Grimpen

... MultiMail, the new multi-platform, multi-format offline reader!
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.49

* Origin: dangerbaybbs.dyndns.org:1337 (1:153/135)
---
■ Synchronet ■ Vertrauen ■ Home of Synchronet ■ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Grimpen to Xerxes on Thu Jun 16 2022 10:21 am

I don't know - but it reminds me of the guy who ran Commodore USA a
few years ago (he passed away a couple of years ago).

He couldn't figure out who owned the IP/Copyrights to Commodore, so
he just started selling Commodore branded stuff until somebody sued
him (and they did).

...

So yea, appearantly you can just claim to own something until
someone sues you, lol.

I liked the old copyright requirement where you had to re-register your copyright every 20 years or so. If a property wasn't valuable to the original author, it reverted to the public domain. Neatly solves the problem of Abandonware.

I agree with this. Intellectual property is tricky stuff, I seem to recall that a large driver around those changes in the 90s was for Disney for Mikey Mouse. There has to be a way to protect IP long term but also let things go if the author/owner isn't interested. That's what our whole copyright/patent/trademark system was orginally designed for - to have stuff go into the public domain particularly if they were not being used.

There is the case of LORD as well. Seth Robinson said in an interview he wants to buy back the rights to LORD for the same amount that he was paid for it so he can open source it and release a key-gen for 4.07+ (and also so he can do other stuff with LORD, but not a new BBS game). He can't get a hold of anyone at Metropolis Gameport to have that conversation, just like most of the people who try to register it.
---------------------------------------------------------
Sysop of Desert Rats Sanctuary --- https://bbs.kn6q.org

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: MRO to Xerxes on Thu Jun 16 2022 04:15 pm

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Xerxes to MRO on Thu Jun 16 2022 10:04 am

He (Barry Altman) did die after all this, yes, back in 2012 and it fell apart right afterwords. I had a C64x case and it was really nice, I am curious what they would have come up with. Aside from the C64x their oth stuff was mostly over-priced OEM computers they stuck a Commodore or Amig logo on (well that and a Commodore themed Linux distro).

i know another sysop who got just the case.

i still have the commodoreOS isos. it's not worth using.

Case capacity would limit off the shelf computing options. Since the case exists as a kit, people have been building systems, however they are by no means high end regarding regular use, let alone modrn gaming machines.

I was considering going this route, then saw the TheC64 full sized console appear on the market.

---
■ Synchronet ■ The Cave BBS - Since 1992 - cavebbs.homeip.net

Doorway was another favourite of mine as well. Desqview and QEMM were pretty awesome too. :-)

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

The Millionaire wrote to All <=-

Doorway was another favourite of mine as well. Desqview and QEMM
were pretty awesome too. :-)

We all know this already, and we don't care.



... The future's uncertain, the end is always near.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
■ Synchronet ■ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Qedit was another one that I used a lot too. :-)

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

The Millionaire wrote to All <=-

Qedit was another one that I used a lot too. :-)

Qedit is/was not a "DOS BBS Program", which is what you asked about.
Qedit is a DOS text editor. Your response/answer is disqualified and
thrown out.


... Windows 3.1 - From the people who brought you EDLIN.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
■ Synchronet ■ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

It sounds like you run Dovenet too. :-P

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Gamgee to The Millionaire on Mon Jun 20 2022 06:59 pm

Qedit was another one that I used a lot too. :-)

Qedit is/was not a "DOS BBS Program", which is what you asked about. Qedit is a DOS text editor. Your response/answer is disqualified and thrown out.

Maybe he meant QuikEdit, which was a BBS full-screen message editor: https://bit.ly/3OsaxR7
Full link: http://www.digitaldistortionbbs.com/api/files.ssjs?call=download-file&dir=bbsfi le_dos_chat&file=QEDIT240.ZIP

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

The Millionaire wrote to Gamgee <=-

It sounds like you run Dovenet too. :-P

I don't know what you're talking about, since you don't know how to
quote context when replying.



... Ignorance can be cured. Stupid is forever.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
■ Synchronet ■ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Nightfox wrote to Gamgee <=-

Qedit was another one that I used a lot too. :-)

Qedit is/was not a "DOS BBS Program", which is what you asked about.
Qedit is a DOS text editor. Your response/answer is disqualified and thrown out.

Maybe he meant QuikEdit, which was a BBS full-screen message
editor: https://bit.ly/3OsaxR7

Well, hard to say when we're talking about TM. I would think if
somebody meant "QuikEdit", they'd say "QuikEdit".



... The world is full of surprises, very few of which are pleasant.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
■ Synchronet ■ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Re: Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Gamgee to Nightfox on Tue Jun 21 2022 07:38 am

Well, hard to say when we're talking about TM. I would think if
somebody meant "QuikEdit", they'd say "QuikEdit".

Yeah. The zip filename does start with "QEEDIT" though. So, I don't know..

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

I was talking about qedit by semware. It was a great text editor for dos that I used with editing BBS text files.

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Tue Jun 21 2022 12:03 pm

I was talking about qedit by semware. It was a great text editor for dos that I used with editing BBS text files.

I used to use that a lot too.

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

The Millionaire wrote to All <=-

I was talking about qedit by semware. It was a great text editor
for dos that I used with editing BBS text files.

Yes, I know that. I was correcting your mistake though: Qedit was
*NOT* a "DOS BBS program" as called out in your subject line. It was/is
a (multi-purpose) DOS text editor.



... Ignorance can be cured. Stupid is forever.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
■ Synchronet ■ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

On 21 Jun 2022, Gamgee said the following...

The Millionaire wrote to Gamgee <=-

It sounds like you run Dovenet too. :-P

I don't know what you're talking about, since you don't know how to
quote context when replying.

i think he's pointing out your awful attitude

... How do I set my laser printer to stun?

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/25 (Windows/32)
* Origin: cold fusion - cfbbs.net - grand rapids, mi

I loved RAHIST. A history addon. Did you ever use that one?

RABIR was a birthday addon. Very colorful.

I also used a diz extractor but can't remember the name of it.

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to Nightfox on Tue Jun 21 2022 01:37 pm

I loved RAHIST. A history addon. Did you ever use that one?

RABIR was a birthday addon. Very colorful.

No, I didn't use those.

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

My favourite drawing program is theDraw.

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

On 6/21/2022 15:55, Gamgee wrote:

The Millionaire wrote to All <=-

TM> I was talking about qedit by semware. It was a great text editor
TM> for dos that I used with editing BBS text files.

Yes, I know that. I was correcting your mistake though: Qedit was
*NOT* a "DOS BBS program" as called out in your subject line. It was/is
a (multi-purpose) DOS text editor.

... Ignorance can be cured. Stupid is forever.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
¨ Synchronet ¨ Palantir BBS * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL

Seriously, what do you expect to accomplish with this?

---
­ Synchronet ­ IPTIA - bbs2.ipingthereforeiam.com:2323

On 6/14/22 14:07, DaiTengu wrote:

If the author can't be found or contacted though, it would be
difficult to register the software..

correct. But if the author suddenly appeared after 30 years of not
being able to be reached, they could demand payment and would likely
win litigation over it.

Worth noting, the most they would get is the actual damages (cost to register), unless you're distributing the crack/key.

Best use a VPS in Amsterdam, where US copyright doesn't apply and make
sure your real identity is shielded from anything related or pointing to
said server.
--
Michael J. Ryan - tracker1@roughneckbbs.com
---
þ Synchronet þ Roughneck BBS - roughneckbbs.com

On 6/15/22 06:14, DaiTengu wrote:

If I was to advocate for anything, it'd be a much shorter duration for
the expiration of software copyrights than the current "author's life
+ 70 years"

Don't remember where I first read it, but someone had the idea of
allowing copyright to never expire... Basically, you get the first 15
years free (original term, but no cost, by default like now)... but to
get any more, you pay $xx at 15 years, and it doubles every N years.

So if it's worth you to keep paying a doubling amount (potentially
millions a year), then it's probably okay to keep it under copyright.

So, say Free 0-15
Then $10k after 15 years...
Then double every 5 years.

After 65 years, registration would be ~$10m... a few more decades and it becomes cost prohibitive.

One year after previous registration expires, public domain.
--
Michael J. Ryan - tracker1@roughneckbbs.com
---
þ Synchronet þ Roughneck BBS - roughneckbbs.com

Re: Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Tracker1 to DaiTengu on Tue Jun 21 2022 02:02 pm

Best use a VPS in Amsterdam, where US copyright doesn't apply and make
sure your real identity is shielded from anything related or pointing to said server.

if anybody threatens to sue me i just warn with a promise of credible physical violence.
---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Tracker1 to DaiTengu on Tue Jun 21 2022 02:15 pm

On 6/15/22 06:14, DaiTengu wrote:

If I was to advocate for anything, it'd be a much shorter duration for the expiration of software copyrights than the current "author's life
+ 70 years"

Don't remember where I first read it, but someone had the idea of
allowing copyright to never expire... Basically, you get the first 15
years free (original term, but no cost, by default like now)... but to
get any more, you pay $xx at 15 years, and it doubles every N years.

So if it's worth you to keep paying a doubling amount (potentially
millions a year), then it's probably okay to keep it under copyright.

So, say Free 0-15
Then $10k after 15 years...
Then double every 5 years.

After 65 years, registration would be ~$10m... a few more decades and it becomes cost prohibitive.

i'm sure this would give disney a huge erection.
---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: MRO to Tracker1 on Wed Jun 22 2022 03:26 am

So if it's worth you to keep paying a doubling amount (potentially
millions a year), then it's probably okay to keep it under copyright.

So, say Free 0-15
Then $10k after 15 years...
Then double every 5 years.
After 65 years, registration would be ~$10m... a few more decades and
it becomes cost prohibitive.

i'm sure this would give disney a huge erection.

Dunno, Disney's last payment would have had to have been $655 Million for Mickey Mouse's copyright with those figures. Next year they'd owe $1.3 billion.
that $1.3 billion figure is nearly 2% of their 2021 net revenue, and over 5% of their gross profits.

and that's JUST for Mickey Mouse. each work (short/movie/tv episode/book/comic) requires its own copyright.

For instance, Winnie the Pooh is now public domain. However, Tigger is not until Jan 1, 2024 (the same time Mickey Mouse's copyright expires) since he didn't appear in a book until 1928.

Disney would hate this. It would likely bankrupt them to hold on to character copyrights for more than 50 years (around $10 million).

Comic book copyrights would also be a nightmare. Each "first appearance" comic would need to have its copright extended. While DC is owned by Warner Bros. and Marvel is owned by Disney, There are tons of smaller and independant comic publishers out there.

For example, Todd McFarlane created Spawn in 1992. This year, he would have had to pay $40,000 to maintain the copyright, still a managable amount, but each version of the character, and each supporting character that was introduced in subsequent books over the next few year would require its own copyright. Not to mention characters that were co-created, do the co-creators split the fees?


It sounds like a nightmare.

DaiTengu

... Beat inflation - steal!

---
■ Synchronet ■ War Ensemble BBS - The sport is war, total war - warensemble.com

Did anyone ever use Fmail? It was Fast Echomail Processor.

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Re: Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: DaiTengu to MRO on Wed Jun 22 2022 09:37 am

introduced in subsequent books over the next few year would require its own copyright. Not to mention characters that were co-created, do the co-creators split the fees?

It sounds like a nightmare.

it sounds like it would stifle creativity.
why create things if there are such penalties?

and what would they do with all the money from the copywrites?
can i be the guy that keeps the money?
---
■ Synchronet ■ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Wed Jun 22 2022 09:33 am

Did anyone ever use Fmail? It was Fast Echomail Processor.

I used to with my RemoteAccess system, then Gecho, then I switched to FastEcho, and am still using it today.

SysOp: C.G. Learn, AKA: DesotoFireflite
Valhalla Home Services! - (Synchronet) - bbs.valhallabbs.com:23
A Gamers Paradise - Over 250 Registered Online Game Doors!

--- FART(n): An audio test of one's waste-disposal system.
■ Synchronet ■ Valhalla Home Services ■ USA ■ http://valhalla.synchro.net

Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: The Millionaire to All on Wed Jun 22 2022 09:33 am

Did anyone ever use Fmail? It was Fast Echomail Processor.

I remember using that, at least at one point.

Nightfox

---
■ Synchronet ■ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.com

My favourite terminal program was Terminate. Had everything built-in.

$ The Millionaire $

---
þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net

Tracker1 wrote to DaiTengu <=-

Don't remember where I first read it, but someone had the idea of
allowing copyright to never expire... Basically, you get the first 15 years free (original term, but no cost, by default like now)... but to
get any more, you pay $xx at 15 years, and it doubles every N years.

That damn mouse ended up screwing up copyright law. Disney kept wanting to extend copyright on Mickey Mouse and lobbied for changes.


... Landru! Guide us!
--- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
■ Synchronet ■ .: realitycheckbbs.org :: scientia potentia est :.

That damn mouse ended up screwing up copyright law. Disney kept wanting
to extend copyright on Mickey Mouse and lobbied for changes.

If only there were some other intellectual property tool that allowed a corporation to protect a *mark* that they used in their *trade*au|

Instead the Rat has twisted copyright into a pardoy of it's original intent. Instead of encouraging creative authorship, it's become a way for corporations to rob the public domain for generations.

-Grimpen

... MultiMail, the new multi-platform, multi-format offline reader!
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Re: Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Grimpen to Poindexter Fortran on Fri Jun 24 2022 09:16 am

Instead the Rat has twisted copyright into a pardoy of it's original intent. Instead of encouraging creative authorship, it's become a way for corporations to rob the public domain for generations.

-Grimpen

i have fixed feelings about this.

who else should have superman? should anything other than disney have
micky mouse and everything?

is the public domain robbed of the ability to make knock off t-shirts?
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On 6/22/22 01:26, MRO wrote:

So, say Free 0-15
Then $10k after 15 years...
Then double every 5 years.

After 65 years, registration would be ~$10m... a few more decades and it
becomes cost prohibitive.

i'm sure this would give disney a huge erection.

Not really, I doubt they'd be willing to pay $1.2billion to renew
Steamboat Willie (first mickey mouse cartoon)... given it's like 100
years old now.
--
Michael J. Ryan - tracker1@roughneckbbs.com
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On 6/22/22 10:36, MRO wrote:

Re: Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: DaiTengu to MRO on Wed Jun 22 2022 09:37 am

> introduced in subsequent books over the next few year would require its own
> copyright. Not to mention characters that were co-created, do the
> co-creators split the fees?
>
>
> It sounds like a nightmare.

it sounds like it would stifle creativity.
why create things if there are such penalties?

and what would they do with all the money from the copywrites?
can i be the guy that keeps the money?

*original* US Copyright was for 15 years with a single 15 year
extension... the pricing for that, that I proposed isn't so bad... it's
only *IF* someone wants to force it for longer than that... it would
also free up abandoned works much more quickly.
--
Michael J. Ryan - tracker1@roughneckbbs.com
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Re: Re: Old DOS BBS Programs
By: Tracker1 to MRO on Wed Jul 06 2022 05:11 pm

On 6/22/22 01:26, MRO wrote:

this is like 3 weeks ago, dude.
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