Yes, to almost all of that. In fact, I was thinking about our OT about religion and why, as Vormav suggested, I think "my own faith wont become corrupt like the rest" is because I don't want anyone else to believe the way I do, I don't want a Church or other social religious hierarchy. I never want to hear anyone say "we believe this, so everyone else must believe exactly the same". If mankind is supposed to be becoming "enlightened" or returning the the position he held before his fall from grace in Eden or what-ever, his faith must evolve too. That can't happen when you write it in a book and enforce it with laws. (Some people like, or need a religious community... that's fine, just don't push it on me.)
Yes, same thing with Science, Technology and Art. Development on "flying machines" stopped when the Wright Bros. "patented" the first plane. They [highlight]did not invent it alone[/highlight], they weren't even the first to get one working. Just the first to the patent office. (development started again when their patent passed) Musicians like George Michael and Prince went on strike most of their lives because the record companies decided they had contracts which owned these "artists" the the extent that they could dictate to them what they did or did not write and perform. How can either artist or art form flourish in such an environment?
Now Apple are suing Sony, HTC, Google and Microsoft (among others) because they patented "a device operated by swiping a finger" and they are in breach of that "patent"... hang on... how do you operate a book?:blink: Are pages not a device? Do we need to buy a product to turn the pages of our book without the swiping of a finger for fear of infringing Apples rights now? Perhaps Apple can sell us one for Dollah!
(I'm sure the "patent" must be more complex than this, but that's what is reported)
Monsanto patents "Roundup" weed killer, and then GMOs resilient to it, so if the seed of that GMO happens to blow onto your land that means Monsanto owns your land. The courts agree that this is lawful and right! :scared: Will they own our stomachs when we eat this stuff?
The part I can't agree with is "abandonware". It's admittedly a "vague" term. It has no legal definition at all. However, I've worked in the "abandonware" scene too. Out usual definition is that no official publisher is retailing, or supporting this product. PT does not fall into that category. Legally (and considering all the other "outrages" listed above which are actually "enforced" by the law) there is a copyright holder who
is maintaining the software and servers.
They may not be doing it in the way the users want. But nobody ever said that suppliers have to comply with their customers wishes. The law of economics usually suggests that a competitor will replace them if they don't. But intellectual property laws are in complete opposition to the "free trade" which this economic law depends upon.
I'm not condoning anyone break the law. I'm not criticizing anyone for trying to uphold the law. I'm not criticizing anyone for trying to make an honest living, by any reasonable means. I am criticizing a legal system which hurts PT developers (Suba and rPT and everyone else) and PT players. (customers and consumers) This law benefits nobody but the short sighted.
:
This isn't Sandurrs "cash cow", it's isn't Subas. Both work bloody hard (in different ways) to keep their customer base. The only people for whom the cash keeps coming regardless of how much or little effort they put in are Yedang, and only because they own the company (Triglow) who bought the original game from it's authors. Another group of people I'm sure are not earning mega-bucks from this "industry".
--- EDIT ---
Oh yea... just an afterthought, to those people winging about loosing "donations" to rPT. If you "donate" (buy Premium Items) from Suba, and they decide that their license with Yedang isn't worth the paper it's written on when servers like rPT can do whatever they like to suit their customers. Do you think Yedang would not revoke Subas licence, shut down their servers and take them to court? Do you think they would treat Subas recent "detonators" any better than Sandurr with rPTs?
I think they would not be so generous or show as much good will as he will.
