Stop recommending unavailable VCD Software

[lifeson]

You guys keep saying . . . . "WinON 3.8 is the best" . . . "VideoPack4 kicks butt" . . . "I-Author can't be beat" . . . etc.

They are no longer available - discontinued. Roxio bought half the VCD world up and does not mention it on their site (they bought out VideoPack, WinON CD, EZ CD Creator, etc). If you have one of these - great - but all it does when you recommend it is to make everyone fruitlessly search the web for it - to no avail. Even worse, the sites don't tell you what happened - such as I-Author. They don't have one word about it. This is frustrating.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: lifeson on 2001-07-18 15:51:30 ]</font>

[thanhhai]

All opinion is good. If you are patient enough you still can find them on the net. None of these softwares are perfect. But one of them will be the best for you. By gathering ideas from this forum I found the software I need.
So let them exprees their idea PLEASE.

[AntnyMD]

Whenever someone seems really desperate to get some piece of software I managed to find, I just email it to them. The files are pretty small, even for a dialup connection.

I don't have WinOnCD, but I do have I-Author, which I never use (since I'm trying to retain maximum compatibility and a bit more widespread compatibility) when I decided to stick to VCD/XVCD.

I want VideoPack4 if someone would be an angel and email me privately. Is it considered warez if its no longer being developed?

[aldus4]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-07-18 17:39:38, AntnyMD wrote:
Is it considered warez if its no longer being developed?
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>
It all depends what one defines as warez. But I think your question is more related to the subject - is it illegal to distribute software that is no longer being developed or sold. I would say "yes", as its all to do with copyright. What would be interesting to find out is when does the copyright expire with software? Does anyone know this?

[volleypotato]

Copyright lasts forever, for all practical purposes with regard to software. A variety of time periods may apply, but the shortest is 70 years.

[patrickm]

the copyrights don't actually expire for a lot of years (the numbers 12, 20 come to mind but i'm guessing more than remembering).

but what makes more sense is what philips did, releasing their not-for-sale, hasn't been updated since 1995 software for free. it's one thing if it's no longer being sold by the company, but practically, it's more a matter of if anyone is still selling it. for instance, win95 isn't gonna be distributed by MS after XP comes out, but some outlets will still have a stock of it left. after all produced copies are sold, will MS care? probably not. is anyone cracking down on copying MS-DOS 3.22 these days? no, not really. is that still technically illegal? yes.

this same issue also comes up with atari/nintendo emulators, and whether distributing ROMs is legal or not. while copyright does protect the intellectual property, there also needs to be the loss of tangible benefit by the company being infringed upon. in the case of a now-defunct company, (which i believe covers Enreach, who made I-Author, since i can't find any info on them) you're not really causing them any harm. but pretty much, it depends on the company. some don't care about their atari games being recirculated, and even think it's great, but others like hasbro are taking people to court.

[aldus4]

@patrickm

So basically you're saying it's illegal to distribute, but usually they don't prosecute?

[patrickm]

well, it's always illegal to resell copies of someone else's program, that's pretty much universal. and what's worse is that you essentially prove the prosecution's case should they bring it, since you obviously showed there was a monetary value someone was willing to pay for it that the owner didn't get.

what i meant was, that for some older software that is basically obsolete (such as what philips considered Toolkit to be, since it was written for win 3.1), some companies basically don't care. but on the other hand some, like hasbro, do. programs that are still being actively (legally) distributed don't fall into this 'obsolete category' since there still is a tangible loss to the distributor and/or property owner depending on their agreements.

the thing is, from what i know about US law, once you put something into public domain (relinquish your copyright and make it free) you can't copyright it again, so companies are reluctant to do that, given they may end up losing on future profit from a derivative product.

[from here on i'm under the assumption that Enreach is out of business and no other company has acquired them, which may or may not be true...]

but it's a cloudy issue when it comes to defunct companies. suppose i'm correct that Enreach (and its assets) doesn't still exist as their own entity or as a part of a company that bought them out, then it's extremely doubtful anyone would prosecute over illegal copying of their products. but the catch is, another company could still buy Enreach today on the cheap and decide to reissue I-Author under their name, or a new version full of wizards to do everything. then they might go after illegal distribution.

and as for the example of DOS 3.22, it's not really economically feasible for MS to go after people for copying that in 2001. the value of the program when new was probably $45. today it would sell for $10 or less. so there's very little they'd get even if they'd win a civil judgement. and given their recent slew of OS's, it's improbable that they'd really care if you made a few copies of win3.1 for yourself. if you start exporting them to china for $40/disc you're in trouble though.

but I-Author was a $1200 or so program, and few comparable programs exist, so if they find someone who's been giving away 5-10 copies a day for 6 months it's a different ballgame.

[AntnyMD]

Yikes.

[patrickm]

(sorry, i wasn't trying to pick on you or tell people not to send you anything, but i was just laying out the fact that you have to take into account risk/reward when you do that, and that the risk varies basically by company/program/licensing agreement. it's not always "i'm just an individual not doing it for profit so they don't care." and when i wrote the second one i was just using enreach as an example since i did before; i didn't even reread that you mentioned it)

[digiman]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-07-18 15:49:40, lifeson wrote:
You guys keep saying . . . . "WinON 3.8 is the best" . . . "VideoPack4 kicks butt" . . . "I-Author can't be beat" . . . etc.

They are no longer available - discontinued. Roxio bought half the VCD world up and does not mention it on their site (they bought out VideoPack, WinON CD, EZ CD Creator, etc). If you have one of these - great - but all it does when you recommend it is to make everyone fruitlessly search the web for it - to no avail. Even worse, the sites don't tell you what happened - such as I-Author. They don't have one word about it. This is frustrating.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: lifeson on 2001-07-18 15:51:30 ]</font>
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>Actually if you go to the main roxio website and choose the german location you can buy winoncd. Just e-mail them and they will tell you how much it is and how to get it.

[jatilford]

try this link USA win on cd 3.8

https://ssl.kundenserver.de/roxioupdate.soft-works.net/bestell/ausland4_01.htm

[gsashok]

Hi I have
WinOnCD3.8PE
VideoPack 4
I-Author
EZ CD creator Platinum Edition
VOB Instance
CDRWin
Fire Burner

You name it. I have it. How ?? Browsing the NET.

The only way to get is u need to spend some time on INTERNET and have to use search engines.

[TOMMO]

WINONCD is available to purchase.

http://www.softwarehouse.de

[Feslmogh]

Roxio is really a spinoff from Adeptec



_________________
...taste like a booger
but I look like a worm
and I bet you never seen
a booger that could squirm
I'll be here when you sneeze
I'll be here when you cough
'cuz I'm stuck on your finger
and you can't shake me off
Be - cause - I...(repeat)

http://www.bogerworm.com

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Feslmogh on 2001-07-26 14:51:04 ]</font>

[khai]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-07-26 14:31:04, gsashok wrote:
Hi I have
WinOnCD3.8PE
VideoPack 4
I-Author
EZ CD creator Platinum Edition
VOB Instance
CDRWin
Fire Burner

You name it. I have it. How ?? Browsing the NET.

The only way to get is u need to spend some time on INTERNET and have to use search engines.




</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

In addition, goto other forums and USE THE SEARCH TOOL in the forums. EVERYTHING is on the net.

[rayjr13]

yea they are out there and can be readily found with some effort for those less scouringly gifted folk. But really I wanted to post to say I like the boger poem/song...although I don't think that I'm gonna be caught singing it¡

[idrci777]

damn patrickm is a smart man/woman..


my 2 cents

[Alex_VCD_Builder]

Well, yes and no... ALMOST everything's on the net! Although it has nothing to do with VCD... but the ONLY thing that is IMPOSIBBLE for me (and everyone else I know) was the ISO (or just the installation) of Microsoft windows 2000 DataCenter!!! For these of you who heared about it, knows that it's not being sold as a retail version. But only as an OEM of certain companies with a monthly rent for using it! I know that there's a OEM CD installation cause Microsoft said there is, but Sofar no one got it (at least no one I know of)...

Thats a chalange for these who say "you can find EVERYTHING..."

[Greg12]

US Copyright lasts 75 years on video games.

[beanouk]

Just as a point of interest most software you buy you are not allowed to sell on as you dont buy the software just the write to use it.

So in most cases if you sell off your PC with the old OS system on it and give the books and disks etc you are breaking the law.

[gsashok]

windows 2000 DataCenter is available on NET !!!

Alex which part of the world you are from?

Reply. I will tell you where to go

[patrickm]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
So in most cases if you sell off your PC with the old OS system on it and give the books and disks etc you are breaking the law.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

i'm not sure what company's software you're referring to there. i just checked the EULA in my winME and win2K books, and both specifically state that you're allowed a one-time direct transfer (sale) to another end-user, provided you give them the complete package (books, disks, etc). the win2K book specifically states you can migrate the OS to a different workstation as long as you remove it from the previous one.

actually, many companies grant the license to an individual, so that if you're a home user you can install it on both your desktop and your laptop or whatever. MS was really tying things down tight when they introduced the per-computer license.

[patrickm]

oh, btw, using i-author as my example may be a bit flawed, since i read a thread yesterday that someone is trying to bring it back to life.

[Alex_VCD_Builder]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-07-27 09:20:42, gsashok wrote:
windows 2000 DataCenter is available on NET !!!

Alex which part of the world you are from?

Reply. I will tell you where to go
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm from west coast, California. But, I also lived in Russia, Italy and Spain.

If you know where can I get it, It could be the best... Thanx Alot

[Alex_VCD_Builder]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-07-27 09:20:42, gsashok wrote:
windows 2000 DataCenter is available on NET !!!

Alex which part of the world you are from?

Reply. I will tell you where to go
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm from west coast, California. But, I also lived in Russia, Italy and Spain.

If you know where can I get it, It could be the best... Thanx Alot )