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From: fnf@mcdsun.UUCP (Fred Fish)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: DISK RECALL
Message-ID: <340@mcdsun.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 20-Jul-87 18:34:08 EDT
Article-I.D.: mcdsun.340
Posted: Mon Jul 20 18:34:08 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Jul-87 03:43:30 EDT
Organization: Motorola Microcomputer Division, Tempe, Az.
Lines: 86
Summary: disks 80 and 88 contain proprietary software

*******************   URGENT NOTICE  ***********************
*                                                          *
*     Please give this notice and its contents widest      *
*     possible distribution.  Repost to any electronic     *
*     communications service and BBS on which it does      *
*     not already exist.  Thank you.                       *
*                                                          *
*                               Fred Fish 20-Jul-87        *
*                                                          *
************************************************************

I have just spoken with Martin Murray, president of Inovatronics,
11311 Stemmons Freeway, Suite 7, Dallas Texas, concerning the 
contents of disk number 80 in my library of Amiga software.
It appears that some dastardly individual took a copy of a
commercial product of theirs, modified it to remove the 
copyright messages, and then released this modified version
on one of the BBS's that I collected material from in the course
of organizing this disk.  Naturally, we are both VERY concerned
about this, and the effect that it might have on the commercial
value of their product.  The programs in question are in the
directory "Tools" on disk number 80.

I am in the process of attempting to identify the original source
of this modified version, to notify all recipients that this
material is to be immediately removed from circulation, and to
otherwise take all appropriate steps to reduce any damage caused
by this release.  I cannot say more at this time.  Please help me
out via the following steps:

(1)	Notify any individuals or organizations that you know of
	that have copies of, or redistribute disk 80, to destroy
	those copies and to stop distribution immediately.
	I will issue a replacement disk as soon as the dust
	settles.  Anyone who received disk 80 from me should
	return the original disk for replacement.

(2)	Please send me a postcard with the name, address and phone
	number of organizations (including user groups) which you
	know of that redistribute my disks so that I may determine
	who the mainstream redistributers are, and track possible
	distribution channels.

(3)	If you are using these tools, please arrange to get a
	legitimate copy.  I believe you can order a copy directly
	from Inovatronics, and they are interested in finding out
	how many honest users there are that will now be willing
	to pay for the product.  Call (214) 241-9515.  Consider
	this a personal plea from me, please do not rip these 
	people off!


The Amiga software industry has grown tremendously since I started 
collecting and distributing PD and freely redistributable software
in late 1985.  It is very hard to keep track of ALL the players with
products on the market.  For whatever reason (lack of sleep after
late night hacking perhaps) I did not connect the name Inovatronics
in this material with the "Power Windows <--> Inovatronics" people.

I hope that the individual responsible for deliberately and knowingly
causing this situation realizes the extent and seriousnous of the
situation he has caused, and its implication for the future of Amiga
PD software.  Please help me to undo any damage I might have done by
not being alert enough to see through this deception.  Thank you.

-Fred Fish
20-Jul-87


[LATE NEWS FLASH --- When it rains it pours, as they say....]
Right after I wrote this file out but before I could post it, I 
received a call from Gary Samad of Software Visions Inc., the
author of the excellent MicroFiche Filer program (he sent me
the demo copy which was released on disk number 88).  It seems that
on the same disk that there is a program named "snap", which contains
binary code compiled from source code that was developed by someone
under contract to Software Visions.  Gary has requested that the
"snap" program be removed from distribution, so all comments above
concerning disk number 80 and the directory "tools" apply equally
to disk number 88 and the "snap" directory.  It hasn't been a fun
day folks....

-- 
= Drug tests; just say *NO*!
= Fred Fish  Motorola Computer Division, 3013 S 52nd St, Tempe, Az 85282  USA
= seismo!noao!mcdsun!fnf    (602) 438-3614