Freeware?

[CocoCreekFisherman]

What I never understood is this whole concept of freeware. I admit my ignorance on this matter.

Don't these large software companies realize how much piracy occurs with their software? Because if they do, it seems like little is done about it. Unless it is like the law enforcement systems throughout a huge part of the world = too many of them and not enough of us???

I realize mentioning the use or exchange of free roms is illegal in not only this forum but in many others and rightfully so.

For me even the word 'freeware' might imply such illegal doings and it is used freely on the internet.

Sometimes it just seems like total hypocrisy. Anyone can poke around the web and with a bit of effort find many apps and roms for free that are supposed to be paid for. 

It just makes me curious why more control is not initiated on the web in regards to piracy of apps and roms?One would think Nintendo,SEGA,Atari and Sony would be outraged!! Is this parallel to the music business too?. I remember the trouble Napster was in some years back. There too are many pirating MP3/4 web sites were one can get songs and movies for free that are supposed to be paid for.. Isn't the Android nation notorious for this? Am I exaggerating the situation here? Apple does seem to have better control over this like them or not.

Look at what happened with that GameGadget and their console..their selling point was that they  had a legal contract with Sega to be able to sell their roms . It turned out that they were only permitted to sell 'certain' roms and not the whole library as one may have thought.

I believe that same company made a deal with SNK to release a limited amount of NEO GEO games on their Neo Geo X hardware.  Both have flopped miserably. Where and why was the line drawn on what the corporation will let them sell and what they  will not permit them to sell? I don't get it except as I said the concept failed. Did they draw straws for 20 games? The number 20 came up because I believe that was the cap on both systems as far as the number of games they could sell..maybe I am wrong with that number. I stand to be corrected.

I hope me even bringing up this topic puts nobody in peril for this is not my intention at all. It is just I always wondered how so many all over the globe 'get away with it'.

Where is that I'm a pirate video? 

 

[ZXDunny]

"freeware" is software given away for free. Such as much of the repo for your Pandora. You likely use some freeware on your PC. It is literally software that is free, ie at no cost to you.

That's all - nothing illegal.

D.

 

[WizardStan]

What are you talking about?

Freeware is free software: it is games and programs that companies or individuals have written and released for free, no money, zero cost, entirely legally. What does that have to do with piracy?

Are you thinking maybe "abandonware"? Abandonware is a term applied to games and applications that are so old that the original company has largely abandoned them and piracy is typically the only way to obtain them. In these cases sometimes the company does care and will take legal action (even if they aren't making any money off the product anymore) but more often than not the company can't be bothered or in many cases doesn't even exist anymore. Trading abandonware is entirely illegal (in countries where copyright holds) but very few people care.

 

[CocoCreekFisherman]

What are you talking about?


Freeware is free software: it is games and programs that companies or individuals have written and released for free, no money, zero cost, entirely legally. What does that have to do with piracy?


Are you thinking maybe "abandonware"? Abandonware is a term applied to games and applications that are so old that the original company has largely abandoned them and piracy is typically the only way to obtain them. In these cases sometimes the company does care and will take legal action (even if they aren't making any money off the product anymore) but more often than not the company can't be bothered or in many cases doesn't even exist anymore. Trading abandonware is entirely illegal (in countries where copyright holds) but very few people care.

why do you even bother to respond.?..I am talking about something I do not understand. That is what I am talking about. Why do you question me?

 I said I was ignorant so if it is called abandonware then I stand to be corrected.

 

[WizardStan]

That's a very good question. You made a post and fifteen minutes later I responded. Fifteen minutes!

And then you complain that your post "wasn't finished"? Why did you hit post if it wasn't finished?

 

[CocoCreekFisherman]

That's a very good question. You made a post and fifteen minutes later I responded. Fifteen minutes!


And then you complain that your post "wasn't finished"? Why did you hit post if it wasn't finished?

Because I have problems typing and the language ok?

Sorry I am not up to your standards...again why do you even bother to respond??????

 

[WizardStan]

Because I have problems typing and the language ok?

So don't hit the "post" button until you are finished. Take all the time you want to make your post say exactly what you mean it to say. There's no rush here. This isn't about my standards, this is a common standard on the internet: if you have posted something on a forum it is assumed that you want someone to read it. If you don't want someone to read it, don't post it until it is ready. Or at least say at the bottom "I'm still working on my thoughts here, don't respond" or something. I can't read your mind, I don't know what you want. That's why I asked for clarification.

again why do you even bother to respond??????

Because I assumed that you were asking a question and wanted an answer. Are you asking a question? Do you want an answer?

 

[CocoCreekFisherman]

Because I have problems typing and the language ok?

So don't hit the "post" button until you are finished. Take all the time you want to make your post say exactly what you mean it to say. There's no rush here. This isn't about my standards, this is a common standard on the internet: if you have posted something on a forum it is assumed that you want someone to read it. If you don't want someone to read it, don't post it until it is ready. Or at least say at the bottom "I'm still working on my thoughts here, don't respond" or something. I can't read your mind, I don't know what you want. That's why I asked for clarification.

again why do you even bother to respond??????

Because I assumed that you were asking a question and wanted an answer. Are you asking a question? Do you want an answer?

Yes Sir...please.

 

[WizardStan]

Yes Sir...please.

This video?link

edit: sorry, it embedded it, not linked. Try again.

 

[moxie]

ZX Dunny has given the correct answer already.

 

[CocoCreekFisherman]

Yes Sir...please.

This video?link


edit: sorry, it embedded it, not linked. Try again.

I love that video...yes that was the one.

 

[CocoCreekFisherman]

So what was the problem with the company that had the GameGadget and NEO GEO X GOLD?

I know that is considered other console discussion but what is related is that they were  allowed a certain number of games to legally sell with their hardware to the consumer.

I wonder what it would take to get permission from Sega or SNK to legally sell every game they ever made?

That would be adandonware yes?

 

[kingoddball]

Hahaha.... Weird little thread...

 

[CocoCreekFisherman]

Hahaha.... Weird little thread...

Glad it amused you.

 

[Fworg64]

...

It just makes me curious why more control is not initiated on the web in regards to piracy of apps and roms?

...

Well you have to walk the line between Intelctual Property laws, and Censorship. There are systems in place such as DCMA, and others have been brought up (SOPA and PITA just recently) but most of them end up turning into censorship of the internet... which is bad.

It's a very interesting topic though and there's plenty to read on it if you look around. I'd start with researching DCMA, SOPA, and PITA.

 

[Wally]

So what was the problem with the company that had the GameGadget and NEO GEO X GOLD?

I know that is considered other console discussion but what is related is that they were  allowed a certain number of games to legally sell with their hardware to the consumer.

I wonder what it would take to get permission from Sega or SNK to legally sell every game they ever made?

That would be adandonware yes?

No as it is going to be relicensed to you so it will no longer be abandonware and will be readily avaliable for sale.


I used to chase developers to try and seek permission to have their game released as freeware so that we wouldn't have much legal backend. Some developers agreed and released their games.. Others didn't want to budge as they were in the process of relicensing and remaking the game on another platform (which has never been touched again).

Liberatedgames.com has quite a lot of news in relation to freeware news. I also think a lot of these people ask companies if they will release source / make freeware. 

I would love for more developers to release the engine source code but make you pay for the actual content so we can see some more amazing titles on the Pandora.