🚀 go-pugleaf

I'll probably be crucified for this, but it's a free country with free
speech, so pee on you :)

  About distributing CoCo ROMs and copyright violation. For other
emulators I have seen, ROMs have been distributed with the disclaimer
that only those owning the original machine may use the ROMs---since
they would be able to copy them in the first place, it is ok to use the
ROMs, since it amounts to the same thing whether you transfer them from
the original machine or have the original machine and get the ROMs some-
where else.

   Besides which, it seems about as shaky to me to copy the ROMs from
the machine yourself in the first place, since that means that you are
able to use the ROM in 2 different places at the same time. That is
permissible, so why not include the ROMs with the emulator. Let's be
serious, who is going to get the emulator unless you already have a CoCo
in the first place sitting in a closet somewhere gathering dust.

   Besides which, I doubt if there would be any legal difficulties in
distributing the ROM. There is no arguing against the morality of pirat-
ing old computer software, I grant you. From a financial viewpoint, how-
ever, which piracy laws are really for, no company will bother prosecut-
ing someone for distributing a working emulator for a 10 year old mach-
ine. They would loose more money than they gained. Besides which, the
emulator takes not a penny from anyone.

   I am not endorsing piracy. I am just reacting to the incredible
disapproval when some poor soul asked for copies of the ROMs. I think,
personally, that they should be included with the emulator, with the
mentioned disclaimer.

Darren Day
S2BR@TRANSY.BITNET