Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site Shasta.ARPA
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!oliveb!Glacier!Shasta!gus
From: gus@Shasta.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.news,net.micro.mac
Subject: Re: shareware
Message-ID: <1483@Shasta.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 31-Oct-85 16:12:23 EST
Article-I.D.: Shasta.1483
Posted: Thu Oct 31 16:12:23 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Nov-85 07:05:20 EST
References: <132@mit-eddie.UUCP> <690@dcl-cs.UUCP>, <1269@tekgvs.UUCP> <1256@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP>
Organization: Stanford University
Lines: 27
Xref: watmath net.news:4213 net.micro.mac:3226

> 
> A. mod.sources.mac would eliminate chatter, repostings, postings of
>    out-of-date software.  Latest posting = latest version.  would serve to 
>    enforce whatever shareware policy was adopted.
> B. state a USENET policy that the net *Strongly Discourages* shareware
>    payments.  

While I might see that benefits of moderating Net.Sources.Mac, I believe
that most of the "chatter" that would be eliminated accounts for a small
fraction of the total volume. Those utilities that are re-posted, such
as PackIt worm a core of utilities required for up/downloading, and SHOULD
be periodically re-posted every few months for the benefit of newcomers.
There is a LOT of good software being posted on the net and nothing should
be done to discourage downloading it. Anyone who objects to having shareware
on the net should also remove all brand names from everything that they own,
as this counts for "advertising" just as much as any other form in that the
creator stands to gain byt having other (non-owners) note the presence of
the product in the world.

Many other nets (such as CompuServe) have no stipulations regarding
Shareware. TThis would limit cross-postings to Net.Sources.Mac and thus
limit the range of choices available to the Mac users on Usenet.

I am not making a statement regarding shareware. I am simply trying to
avoid a situation by which an author might be tempted not to post his program
because he could not ask others for a voluntary donation for his efforts.
It is up to the users to decide whether to pay or not.