🚀 go-pugleaf

baylor@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Baylor) writes...
>	Ok, so these guys that distribute games for profit ARE getting
>a shareware author's permission first?
>	Are they allowed to distribute without permission?

Well, Baylor, yes AND no.  Yes, some do (most don't, except for what permiss-
ions are placed in the distribution files by the author, which frequently
give blanket permission for disk vendors to distribute, sometimes with a max
limit on how much can be charged).  No, a lot don't even EVER contact the
authors, EVEN when the author strictly specifies that the program may NOT be
sold by distributors without the distributor first getting permission from
the author in writing.

The shareware scene is changing VERY rapidly, and ESPECIALLY as concerns the
shareware RACK vendors (vendors who place racks in retail locations, selling
the shareware for between $3 and $8 dollars).  A large number of shareware
authors "inhabit" a couple of forums (notegroups) on Compuserve (ASPFORUM and
section 11 of UKSHARE), and a GREAT deal of discussion is going on right now
in the UKSHARE forum by authors who don't like the way things are developing
in rack vending and want to change it a bit.  Most authors experience has been
that rack sales (so far) have a VERY low rate of registration, and understand-
ably so: people are used to going into a store, paying money, and walking out
with something that is THEIRs.  Anyway, to balance the equation a bit, a
number of authors are starting to restrict rack vendors from carrying their
products unless the rack vendor pays a 10 to 15 cent royalty per disk to the
author.  It's still being sold as shareware, and end users are still expected
to register, but this way the authors get a (small) amount of money up front.

There is another variation developing (which *I* think will eventually take
the place of the shareware racks) which is the low-cost retail software rack,
which sells non-shareware versions of the software for $5 to $8, and pays a
royalty to the author of between 25 and 50 cents per copy sold.  These racks
are growing rapidly and starting to pop up in all kinds of places from Sears,
Penny's, Walmart, etc to 7-11, video stores, and I even heard of one at a
*CAR WASH*!  These racks will suck up the high quality shareware that FITS
the market (games, educational, home/personal type products) and those authors
stand to earn a very healthy living.  It will take a few years for the market
to fully develop (we're talking 10's of thousands of retail locations that
have to be fitted with racks, plus distribution channels, and all that crap),
but it's going to change the face of that portion of the software scene.

** Everett Kaser                   Hewlett-Packard Company
** ...hplabs!hp-pcd!everett        work: (503) 750-3569   Corvallis, Oregon
** everett@hpcvra.cv.hp.com        "Today is a good day for change."