Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Software Issues and Discussion => Topic started by: bubba on March 14, 2007, 04:29:02 PM
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With old floppies from e-bay being so unreliable, I'd like to legally acquire ADFs of some of my favorite Amiga software.
Is there anyway to do this? I bought an Amiga classic CD, but it was mostly demo versions of the games I wanted, e.g. GODS, not the full game.
thanks,
bubba
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Well, if you're REALLY concerned about having legal title to all the games you play, you could always purchase the game from Ebay and if the disks are corrupt, you could then download the (illegal) ADF, and use it legally (since you have proof of purchase of the original software by owning the physical package & disks).
I also recal that there was a site hosting Amiga games legally available for download (had been released by their original publishers/authors).
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C'est impossible. Most of the ancient software houses are long defunct.
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http://amigans.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=112
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Look here (http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=27791). ;-)
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Copying, archiving, PDFing of any literature, manuals, instruction leaflets, etc. for whatever purpose is subject to the same Copyright rules as software. Many people seem to think there's a distinction, but there isn't.
I don't say this 'cos I have a hangup about pirating software, it's simply for information. I have copies of software on floppies that I didn't buy from anybody, just as you probably have. I photocopy printed stuff all the time, but in law it's illegal.
Whether anyone should 'preserve' Amiga software and manuals by copying them to an archive is a matter of personal opinion. For sure, it's unlikely that anyone associated with their original creation will ever know about it, let alone actually care.
JaX
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I don't say this 'cos I have a hangup about pirating software, it's simply for information. I have copies of software on floppies that I didn't buy from anybody, just as you probably have. I photocopy printed stuff all the time, but in law it's illegal.
That is not completely true.. It really depends on the country you live in. Alot of EU countries have something you call fair use, which covers the ability to copy your legally bought items as a backup.
Here it is also legal to break dvd encryption on your legally bought dvd to be able to play it on lets say linux. Same thing with the drm on music and audio cds.
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There are a few links on the Amiga Forever (http://www.amigaforever.com/games/) website. There are some good links in the on Lemon Amiga (http://www.lemonamiga.com/) too, check in Games - General section of the links page.
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@Tomas
My comments were really directed towards the copying of manuals and such. This is raised by wierdami's link and the resulting comments about saving/archiving them for 'posterity'.
I wanted to extablish that there's no difference from a Copyright perspective, in copying software for 'general' distribution (via an archive for example) and doing the same thing with textual works.
I've noted some people are passionate about the issue of software copying/piracy, yet overlook if not sanction the copying of associated literature.
As far as I'm concerned, if nobody archives anything associated with the classic Amiga, it will be all as dust within five years.
JaX
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Actually, fair use has always been a part of the US Copyrights Act. The whole issue of "rights" is a large and complex one. First and foremost you have the Copyright Law. For the matter at hand, let it be known that a software is considered to be the same a literary work.
Inside the copyrights act, you have the fair use. It's legal for you to let's say... take a screenshot of a game's graphics to use it in a review, but it's not legal to take that screenshot to use it in another software.
Then you have Licensing (software license, free license, open license, GPL, EULA, click-wrap, etc etc) which was invented in the early 80s to circumvent certain aspects of Copyright laws. Under the copyright law, if one would like to be a real tight ass, any software on removable media (let's say a CD) cannot legally be installed on hard disk because that is making a copy of the product (stupid ain't it?) So the first software license were created so that users could make personal backups of software bought on a destrucible media (magnet + original 3.5" disk = no more software!). It is legal for you to rent a movie for your living room, but it is illegal to rent it for public display. You can buy a DVD and make a copy for yourself, but not one for your neighbor.
Licenses are also used to extend the owner's right over the software and how it is used. Most people don't read the license agreements and that's what is profitable for companies. For example, did you know that if you send a file to someone over MSN Messenger, Microsoft reserves the right to claim that software as his own? It's all right there in the EULA. So by now I think it's safe to say that Microsoft owns all the software in the world :) Of course this wouldn't hold up in any court where the judge has an IQ over 15... but on paper, it's all there!
I think it's safe to say that every single member of this board has a HOST of pirated software for both the PC and the Miggy. In fact, my personnal opinion is that without pirating, we would only now begin to have computers beyond the C64. At the same time, pirating has sent many a developper into bankruptcy so it's all very interpretable and makes for long winded discussions that generally don't amount to much.
In the case of the Amiga, you seriously risk next to nothing when dealing with pirated software, but the act remains illegal in itself. If you do trade that kind of software you acknowledge you are breaking the law, and accept the fact that you can be punished for it.
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"It's a thorny legal issue, all right. I'll need to refer to the case of Finders v. Keepers." - Lionel Hutz
:lol: :lol: :lol:
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I don't know why anybody cares.
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I don't know how Jaxanim has the balls to comment on a thread about copyright and piracy.
How much have you made over the years from selling pirated Amiga software Mr Thewlis? :rtfm:
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@Snaggle
It's true, you got me. I was a bad lad. Way back when, I bought a pirated copy of LightWave and it simply inspired me. Other people wanted it too and I sold it to them. I know LightWave inspired not only me, but any Amigan it touched and that made me feel great. But helping them in that way was bad. That was very bad, I know that now, but it didn't seem that bad at the time. NewTek had left us and it was happening everywhere.
I didn't make as much as you imply, but it all went on LightWave5 despite NewTek leaving Amiga in the lurch. Over the years, I've tried to keep LightWave alive on the Amiga by writing the WaveGuide manual and dedicating my website to it all. That's where I upload weeks of effort, writing Tutorials and rendering stuff, so people like you can download it all for free. Producing WaveGuide took six months work. Having been such a bad person, maybe dedicating all my spare time to it was a sort of penance, who knows. Over time, a few Amiga enthusiasts bought the manual, so it showed LightWave was still alive in the background and that's what it was all about.
Anyway, all that's history now, but I'd like to thank you for bringing it to everyone's attention. If I hadn't picked up a bootleg copy of LightWave I doubt my Amiga days would ever have lasted two years never mind twenty. That's what I was saying in the thread. However, I'd also like to apologise to anyone reading this thread who has been offended in any way by my behaviour regarding LightWave or my contribution to this or many other discussion.
To you, Snaggle, I also offer my apologies. I apologise for any offence I have caused you, or any issue you have that I am unaware of. In the six posts you've made to AOrg forums, two relate directly to me and my LightWave past. Did I offend you personally in some way? I have obviously stuck in your craw, but I don't know why. I publically admit to past mistakes and I'm sorry. Please tell me what to say to make you feel better. In regard to the current thread, I was saying what I know about Copyright and where fraud plays a part in pirated software. I sold copies of LightWave to people who wanted copies. Nobody was ever conned. They were happy and I was happy. Maybe in a tiny way that helped LightWave to last a few more years. If that's the case I'm pleased.
Today, I don't run LightWave on my Amiga. I've moved on to the pc version which I purchased from NewTek at the full retail price. I still maintain the WaveGuide site so any Amiga LightWavers still around can visit, download stuff, get advice, ideas and maybe some inspiration. I try my best to make up for the past.
Time to let go I think.
JaX
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As far as I'm concerned, if nobody archives anything associated with the classic Amiga, it will be all as dust within five years.
Completely agree... Is sad but true :(
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@bubba
As someone already pointed out you can find a webpage on Amiga Flame which acts as an access point making it easier to locate Amiga games from a variety of (legal) sources.
Amiga Retro Titles
http://www.amigaflame.com/amiretro.htm
@all
If you are interested in preserving Amiga's incredible place in gaming history it would be beneficial if contact could be established with the people behind Back 2 The Roots and Amiga Emulation for Beginners. With their permission the games they had could become available through other websites such as Amiga Land or Amiga Future's site.
If anyone has any contact information then please post the information.
AF
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Licenses are also used to extend the owner's right over the software and how it is used. Most people don't read the license agreements and that's what is profitable for companies. For example, did you know that if you send a file to someone over MSN Messenger, Microsoft reserves the right to claim that software as his own? It's all right there in the EULA.
They are not always legally binding. If they contradict with the law then the law comes first.
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on http://software.amigafuture.de you found some.
btw. we would release more fullversion. when anyone know rightholders, please write us...
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AndreasM wrote:
on http://software.amigafuture.de you found some.
btw. we would release more fullversion. when anyone know rightholders, please write us...
I was in e-mail contact with the author of AmiBroker a month or 2 back. I asked him if I could legally purchase the Amiga version. He said no, but that he'd also like to release the Amiga version into the public domain. Maybe you can follow up & finally get him to release that wonderful piece of software.
BTW, where can I get the English docs to CYCAS that I downloaded from your Amiga Future web site? If my Yiddish was any better, I might understand the German docs a bit better.
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Rabbi wrote:
AndreasM wrote:
on http://software.amigafuture.de you found some.
btw. we would release more fullversion. when anyone know rightholders, please write us...
I was in e-mail contact with the author of AmiBroker a month or 2 back. I asked him if I could legally purchase the Amiga version. He said no, but that he'd also like to release the Amiga version into the public domain. Maybe you can follow up & finally get him to release that wonderful piece of software.
can you give me the email adress from the author?
BTW, where can I get the English docs to CYCAS that I downloaded from your Amiga Future web site? If my Yiddish was any better, I might understand the German docs a bit better.
sorry, dont have :/
when anyone havfe a english doc, please send it to me.
thx
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@all
I found this important piece of news from a web forum for Amiga Emulation for Beginners. It dates to the end of January and may indicate that this vital website will make a welcome return. In addition, the administrator may have picked up games from Back 2 The Roots.
It might be useful to ask for an update on his progress on the new website, and to offer assistance.
Here is the forum and the message
http://www.network54.com/Forum/14279/
Hiya Folks
Well it's Nearing time, Amiga Emulation for Beginners is Neraly Completed.
This, in itself has taken alot of time, please understand the reasons for this:
Work for 1 reason,
I work long hours and barely find time for Emulation these days
My Family Comes first
The main reason though is that because of the splits in BTTR everything kinda went everywhere and finding people who have the permissions was nearenough impossible, and if they can't be found because of Legal reasons games can't be posted.
However after Many many months of trying to get things sorted we are nearly there.
So! what can you expect from the new Amiga Emulation for Beginners.
Well here's a list
Legal Games Downloads.
Wallpapers and Temes.
Bginners guides (In HTML, WOrd DOC and PDF).
Emulation Downloads
ADF Collections (Like Assassins and games Galore)
Freeware Games
Applications
Educational Content
This is just a small part of what will be there, Amiga Emulation for Beginners aims to be (in the future) as bg and as popular as BTTR.
So please be patient and bear with us we understand it's taking it's time.
If you want to help or feel you can help in any way then PLEASE contact us.
Thanks for your patience
CPC464
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Andreas,
I just forwarded you the e-mail the AmiBroker author sent me when I asked him if I could register the Amiga version to your e-mail account listed in your profile here.
BTW, could you ask the CYCAS authors if they might still have the English docs? Thanks in advance.
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Andreas,
I just forwarded you the e-mail the AmiBroker author sent me when I asked him if I could register the Amiga version to your e-mail account listed in your profile here.
BTW, could you ask the CYCAS authors if they might still have the English Amiga docs? Thanks in advance.
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Rabbi wrote:
Andreas,
I just forwarded you the e-mail the AmiBroker author sent me when I asked him if I could register the Amiga version to your e-mail account listed in your profile here.
says thanks ;)
http://www.amigafuture.de/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14374
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@AndreasM
>we would release more fullversion. when anyone know >rightholders, please write us...
Evryware
http://www.evryware.com/
Austex Software
http://www.austexsoftware.com/
AF
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AF wrote:
@AndreasM
>we would release more fullversion. when anyone know >rightholders, please write us...
Evryware
http://www.evryware.com/
what make they for amiga?
Austex Software
http://www.austexsoftware.com/
AF
we release some time ago uropa 2 on the Amig Future CD 33 :)
When the issue selling out we release the game on the page, too.
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According to Moby Games, they developed Manhunter: New York and Manhunter 2: San Fransisco for the Amiga platform. A review of Manhunter can be found here: http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/162/
AF
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ok
i write a email to the group