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From: stuart@bms-at.UUCP (Stuart D. Gathman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Program rentals - an invitation to piracy?
Message-ID: <322@bms-at.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 16-Dec-86 00:31:21 EST
Article-I.D.: bms-at.322
Posted: Tue Dec 16 00:31:21 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 17-Dec-86 07:17:21 EST
References: <800@mtunb.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Business Management Systems, Inc., Fairfax, VA
Lines: 54
Summary: A reasonable rental policy.

In article <800@mtunb.UUCP>, dmt@mtunb.UUCP (Dave Tutelman) writes:

> "Members are not inconvenienced by having to return the rented software
> to the club.  They are simply asked to erase the software on their own
> before expiration of the 21 day rental period."

> "We do not provide documentation.  However, in many cases the ... manuals
> are not required.  The most popular ... programs are represented by many
> books available in computer/book stores.  These books generally explain
> the operation of the programs better than the original documentation."

My feeling is that a software rental company should:

	a) rent only original disks with original documentation and
	backup copies.  The originals help keep people honest.  The
	backup copies would actually be used.

	b) require a deposit in case of loss or damage (although most
	software companies will replace a damaged original disk for
	a nominal fee).  Originals, backups and documentation must be returned
	at the end of the rental period.

	c) keep enough paid for originals around to satisfy the demand.
	Thus, the publisher is getting paid for N users if there are
	enough copies for N rentals to be outstanding.

	d) charge enough to cover replacement for wear and tear plus
	overhead and profit.

Sleazy companies like the one quoted above are essentially stealing from the
software publishers.

Unfortunately, an honest company would have trouble charging competitive
prices compared a sleazy one.  Therefore such sleazy activity
should be illegal.  I think that software publishers should be the
ones to attempt legal action.  They are ones who stand to lose.
This is one area where Lotus and Ashton-tate should cooperate!

I think that the law should require that only paid-for originals
may be 'rented'.  Copies may be used only for backup purposes and

	a) may not be transferred to another party while retaining
	posession of the originals.

		and

	b) *must* be transferred to another party or destroyed when
	the original is sold or rented.

P.S.
	I detest copy protection.  It's not so much the backup, it's having
to stick a stupid diskette in drive A on an otherwise all hard disk system.
-- 
Stuart D. Gathman	<..!seismo!dgis!bms-at!stuart>