C
c_e
I've seen the word "abondanware" used a few times in this newsgroup - how
would "abondonware" be defined?
thanks in advance
coma
would "abondonware" be defined?
thanks in advance
coma
F
Flaccid
c_e said:
Probably not the same way as spelled in the subject!
B
Bjorn Abelli
"c_e" skrev...
According to the glossary on the Pricelessware site:
Orphanware/Abandonware: software that the original author
or company no longer offers to the public (used when author
cannot be located or company is no longer in existence). May
not be freeware. May not be legal to obtain and use it.
http://pricelessware.org/2004/Glossary2004PL.htm
However, I personally also make a distinction between "orphaned" and
"abandoned".
As an example I have often used Visual Thought, that was explicitly
abandoned by the company (no further development or support on the
software). In this process they also made it freely available to the public
community.
In other cases, when a company ceases to exist, the result is obviously
similar (no further development or support on the software), but there is
also mostly no possibility to get any more information on the status of the
software as freeware or not (orphaned).
In those cases, one must refer to what is known from the last publicly known
EULA or similar.
Bottom-line:
- the concept "abandonware" doesn't in itself say anything
on the status of the software as "freeware" or not, but...
- there is no known further development
or support on the software
Hope this helps
// Bjorn A
According to the glossary on the Pricelessware site:
Orphanware/Abandonware: software that the original author
or company no longer offers to the public (used when author
cannot be located or company is no longer in existence). May
not be freeware. May not be legal to obtain and use it.
http://pricelessware.org/2004/Glossary2004PL.htm
However, I personally also make a distinction between "orphaned" and
"abandoned".
As an example I have often used Visual Thought, that was explicitly
abandoned by the company (no further development or support on the
software). In this process they also made it freely available to the public
community.
In other cases, when a company ceases to exist, the result is obviously
similar (no further development or support on the software), but there is
also mostly no possibility to get any more information on the status of the
software as freeware or not (orphaned).
In those cases, one must refer to what is known from the last publicly known
EULA or similar.
Bottom-line:
- the concept "abandonware" doesn't in itself say anything
on the status of the software as "freeware" or not, but...
- there is no known further development
or support on the software
Hope this helps
// Bjorn A
O
Onno Tasler
c_e scribebat:
There is a description of many "ware" types to be found at
http://www.pricelessware.org/
I would define Abandonware as software that has been officially
abandoned (getting no more support, is no longer developed) by its
producers. (Windows 95 is abandonware now)
Please put this message off - it cannot be a certificate because any
virus can imitate it. It gives a false feeling of security which a virus
can abuse to make a reader run it.
bye,
Onno
There is a description of many "ware" types to be found at
http://www.pricelessware.org/
I would define Abandonware as software that has been officially
abandoned (getting no more support, is no longer developed) by its
producers. (Windows 95 is abandonware now)
Please put this message off - it cannot be a certificate because any
virus can imitate it. It gives a false feeling of security which a virus
can abuse to make a reader run it.
bye,
Onno
C
c_e
LOL, maybe I should've just asked if anyone knew of a free spellchecker forFlaccid said:
OE!
coma
C
c_e
Onno Tasler said:
ok, Just for you Onno
actually I hadn't realised I'd put that option on AVG - you're right, it is
annoying, meaningless and potentially misleading
coma
C
c_e
Yes, thanksBjorn Abelli said:
J
Just mee
It defaults to "on" when you install AVG.
JM
On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 15:41:24 -0000, "c_e"
JM
On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 15:41:24 -0000, "c_e"
D
Derald
As I discovered recently, it also reverts to "on" when one upgradesJust mee said:
the .exe file (not the virus datafile).
D
donutbandit
No. Win95 is NOT abandonware. If you think that it is, start selling copied
Win95 CDs on eBay, and make sure that Microsoft finds out about it. You'll
quickly find out that Win95 is not abandonware.
O
Onno Tasler
donutbandit scribebat:
Read my definition of "abandonware". Windows 95 is no longer supported
by MS, nor is it developed further. Thus, it is "abandoned". That does
not mean that they will allow others to earn money with it in an illegal
way. (They still own the copyright)
Juse because I abandoned a house for some reason does not mean that every-
body who wants to may move in and live there, either.
abandonware != no longer seen as property
bye,
Onno
Read my definition of "abandonware". Windows 95 is no longer supported
by MS, nor is it developed further. Thus, it is "abandoned". That does
not mean that they will allow others to earn money with it in an illegal
way. (They still own the copyright)
Juse because I abandoned a house for some reason does not mean that every-
body who wants to may move in and live there, either.
abandonware != no longer seen as property
bye,
Onno
D
donutbandit
Then your definition of abandonware is different from the common
perception, which is "software that has been abandoned by it's owner; the
owner, upon abandoning it, released it to the public and gave up any future
claims to it." Or substance thereof.
Win95 is probably better decribed as "deadware." Deadware is still owned,
and can be revived by it's owner at any given time. Development and support
have ceased, but the owner still holds and enforces copyright.
I can assure you that Microsoft still sees Win95 as property.
Funny how many terms we can coin to describe software.
B
Bjorn Abelli
I don't know what sources you have for your claim that Onno's definition is
"different from the common perception".
The definition Onno uses is similar to the one on the Pricelessware pages...
http://pricelessware.org/2004/Glossary2004PL.htm
And a quick google reveals that it's used in just that way on most sites
Google find, e.g.:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=abandonware
http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci214339,00.html
And yes, on some other sites they define it otherwise, but still the
bottom-line is that it has to been "released" to be considered freeware, if
it wasn't freeware already before it was abandoned. Copyright laws in most
countries I know, has a time limit for 70 years...
And since freeware is the pre-requisite for *any* software discussed in this
forum...
[snip]
I'm sure some even would argue that, as Win95 is alive and well on *their*
machines...
Absolutely, that's why it's abandonware but *not* freeware.
Funny how many terms we can coin to describe software.
And the century is still young...
// Bjorn A
D
donutbandit
Which leaves Win95 out of the discussion to begin with. So why did Onno use
it as an example?
[snip]
I'm sure some even would argue that, as Win95 is alive and well on
*their* machines...
Apples and oranges. You are talking about people using a dead or abandoned
program, which millions of people do. I was talking about it's status as
far as development. I did note the smiley.
Win95 is not abandoned. There are still links, info pages, and software
downloads for it on Microsoft's site.
O
Onno Tasler
donutbandit scribebat:
Because I wanted to give an example which is: a) Well known b) *not*
freeware, so that everybody sees that abandoned programs are *not*
automatically in the public domain
Old pages nobody was willing to remove, because they do not disturb
anyone. They aren't updated or anything. They are abandoned.
Oh, and Windows 95 cannot be "deadware", since software cannot die
but only get abandoned.
bye,
Onno
Because I wanted to give an example which is: a) Well known b) *not*
freeware, so that everybody sees that abandoned programs are *not*
automatically in the public domain
Old pages nobody was willing to remove, because they do not disturb
anyone. They aren't updated or anything. They are abandoned.
Oh, and Windows 95 cannot be "deadware", since software cannot die
but only get abandoned.
bye,
Onno
O
Onno Tasler
Bjorn Abelli scribebat:
In Germany, your copyrights vanes 70 years after you died; not 70 years
after its production...
bye,
Onno
In Germany, your copyrights vanes 70 years after you died; not 70 years
after its production...
bye,
Onno
B
Bjorn Abelli
"Onno Tasler" ...
That's what I meant, but I only wrote those dots instead, as I wasn't sure
about who actually wrote Win95, and can't predict when he/she/they are
expected to die... ;-)
// Bjorn A
That's what I meant, but I only wrote those dots instead, as I wasn't sure
about who actually wrote Win95, and can't predict when he/she/they are
expected to die... ;-)
// Bjorn A
O
Onno Tasler
Bjorn Abelli scribebat:
Well, assume the typical programmer was around 30 years old, then,
according to the statistic, they will die in approximately 50 years.
Yet, I do not know about American copyright law, as far as I know that
is a bit different in this case.
bye,
Onno
Well, assume the typical programmer was around 30 years old, then,
according to the statistic, they will die in approximately 50 years.
Yet, I do not know about American copyright law, as far as I know that
is a bit different in this case.
bye,
Onno
J
JunkMonkey
Well. . . I would imagine that the law regarding copyright protection for a
copyright held by a corporation is based on a slightly different standard
than one held by an individual since corporations don't "die" (They are
dissolved, and with luck, the shareholders continue to breathe!). It would
seem crazy to base a corporate copyright on the unpredictable lifespan of an
employee.
copyright held by a corporation is based on a slightly different standard
than one held by an individual since corporations don't "die" (They are
dissolved, and with luck, the shareholders continue to breathe!). It would
seem crazy to base a corporate copyright on the unpredictable lifespan of an
employee.
D
donutbandit
Old pages nobody was willing to remove, because they do not disturb
anyone. They aren't updated or anything. They are abandoned.
Oh, and Windows 95 cannot be "deadware", since software cannot die
but only get abandoned.
Nope. Sorry, but you're wrong, Onno. Microsoft certainly found time to
remove tons of knowledge base pages for MS-DOS. The Win95 stuff is still
there because people still use it. Believe me, Microsoft leaves nothing to
chance.
As a matter of fact, I recently downloaded quikview.exe for Win95 from
their site, and installed it into my WinME.