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Pass New Law: Abandonware becomes Public Source after 5 Years.

210 points posted to Dell, Software by reg 03/31/07

Windows 3.1 - Long gone in the history of Computing
Windows NT - No longer supported.
Mac OS 1 through 8 - not supported in any way, shape or form.

PASS THE LAW

Abandoned Software becomes Open Source after 5 years of discontinuance.

This opens software up for the world to still use.
Not the latest and greatest, mind you -
just yesterday's lukewarm leftovers.

Companies such as Microsoft can write their latest code,
but can not slaughter millions of machines in a single blow.

When any company stops supporting their packages, as previously supported,
the home government gets the final draft source code, made publicly available,
5 years later.

1. Old software programs can be maintained and salvaged.
2. Five Year buffer is an eternity in 'Computer Time' - protecting new software developers profits.
3. YOU can't get help anymore for Windows NT, but you can get the whole package and source code free. Use it as you wish.
4. PREVENT CORPORATE ABUSE. Such as the Total Windows XP shutdown, and forced death march into the Windows Vista camp.
5. Preserve Cultural Heritage. Data formats and information face total loss, in 20 years, could you open a Word 97 document? Most likely not. For the first time in human culture - the collective works of millions of people faces complete erasure. This is Wrong, and must be stopped.

<font> <u>The Digital Culture Preservation Act</u>

All Abandoned software and software platforms older than 5 years from the date of 'discontinuance' becomes public domain.
If original software developers still exist, they must provide Source Code to the Library of Congress.
The Source Code is treated as a book,
and put on-line as a digital publication. (ASCII Text File)
Along with downloadable working copies of the compiled program.
If the original software developers do not exist,
citizens may submit software to the Library of Congress using
an on-line form and upload service.
Old emulator programs are to be added to the Library too.
Then software can be preserved for computer platforms no longer in production.
(Apple, Atari, Commodore, IBM, Sinclair, and dozens more . . . )</font>

<font> SAVE OUR DIGITAL WORLD.
PASS THE LAW. </font>

therrydicule
03/31/07		 May be not in 5 year, but i'm agree with the princip.
steve2
03/31/07		 Dell should pass a law????????????
therrydicule
03/31/07		 What I understand is to make pressure about this...
mattd
04/01/07		 This is a great idea. This will do wonders for backward compatibility.
reg
04/01/07		 The more software available,
the more useful hardware becomes.
The more more useful hardware is,
the more hardware you can sell.

I had some great Windows 3.1 programs, Ancient I know.
They worked well back then on a 386, they would be screaming fast on a 3.2 GHz CPU machine for today.
Problem is, I can't get copies. If I could they might not be 'legal' to use, even though the original developer abandoned their customers a long time ago.

Now think of the Billions of dollars worth of software humming through the chips of today.
Some of it irreplaceable. In 10 years - will people still be able to use those programs?

There are Macintosh Users who must use OS 9.2 - But Apple Abandoned their customers,
and Millions of dollars of software in a single day, declaring OS 9.2 DEAD.
Now people dependent on older programs hunt eBay for older Mac systems Able to Boot up OS 9.2.

Abandoned software is really abandoned customers.
The public is left helpless to protect their investments.
Even Sovereign State governments become hostage to the whims of corporate profiteering.
Here is where the Government actually can step in and become useful.
The original developers of software gave up on their customers, so they are no longer seeking profit.
Yet customers must become 'Pirates' (eye-patch not included) just for trying to keep their older applications running.

So, we need a retroactive law passed THIS YEAR:

The Digital Culture Preservation Act

Then, AT LEAST, working copies of software will be preserved.
Our heritage of programming knowledge will not get lost through the ages.

Our culture stands at a crossroads where millions of works of the human mind may be lost forever.
Think of how old Albums became inaccessible when CDs replaced the format.
Step back a few years and Albums replaced Wax Cylinders.
Now, think ahead 50 years - will ANYTHING from 1980~2010 be accessible in the future?
Or will generations of software (and historical content) vanish like the reel to reel tapes of computing history?

Preserve Our Culture
Preserve our American Heritage
Support The Digital Culture Preservation Act
jervis961
04/01/07		 Great idea reg, this may be your best one yet.
patheticcockroach
04/20/07		 This has totally nothing to do with Dell, but I do like this idea...
reg
04/20/07		 Incorrect - Every program you use Today - is GONE in 3 years.

But 20 years from Now, you might need that data.
? How to get it ? You won't find a copy of Office in 20 years that supports it?

Creating and Preserving more software, code, programs, and data is the Very Core of Dell Products.

Without programs and data, Dells are just little plastic&metal boxes with no function, worthless.

The more software - the more useful your Dell computer becomes...and That's Good For Dell.
 
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