Howard Traxler <howard@...>
Perhaps you mean illegally obtained software rather
than illegal software?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2018 1:34 PM
Subject: Re: [nvda] Admin. Important. On
promoting illegal software
The problem with that position is that the current illegal copy
wasn’t made legally in the first place. Sure, it uses Eloquence libraries, but
Nuance isn’t selling Eloquence themselves. Yes, there is a legal copy, and
sure maybe the use of the illegal version may hurt their sales, but those who
use the illegal add-on aren’t pirating a legal add-on, they’re pirating the
Eloquence DLL’s and libraries. Technical, yes, but it’s a distinction I feel
must be taken into account. I’m not saying that it is right to use the add-on,
even if Nuance doesn’t sell Eloquence to end-users, and barely makes anything
with the licenses, which I think must be pretty strict owing to the DRM on PC
and Android.
On Jul 16, 2018, at 1:03 PM, ely.r@... wrote:
Gene, ,
No, I fully understand the list position. The issue is
theft.
However when it comes to software, it is easy to convince
one’s self that it doesn’t really hurt anyone as they will never know. Sorry
if this sounds pretentious , but I have been and friends have been on the
opposite side of this issue, and it can make a real difference for a
developer who puts in enormous time creating software and knowing that a
percent of copies are simply Pirated.
Rick
The question isn't
whether NVDA has adequate selection of synthesizers nor whether it is
free. The question is whether the list should be exposed to legal
liability by the promotion of any kind of illegal software.
If someone promoted
illegal software to perform OCR, the same restriction would apply or to an
illegal word processing program.
----- Original
Message -----
Sent: Monday,
July 16, 2018 12:32 PM
Subject: Re:
[nvda] Admin. Important. On promoting illegal software
Gene
Thanks for this post. I have been wondering over the last
few days what the position of the list owner would be on supporting the
illegal piracy of software. NVDA comes free to those who cannot afford the
cost of a screen reader. NVDA has a more than adequate selection of
synthesizers as part of its install. Our visual conditions, whatever they
may be, do not include an exemption for theft.
Again thanks for your reminder,
Rick
I'm sending this as
an administrative message along with sending it in the thread where this
problem is currently occurring. I have slightly expanded this message
with another explanatory comment.
I've stated before,
as much as two or three days ago, that promoting illegal software is not, I
emphatically repeat not, allowed on list. This is not my policy.
It is the policy of the list owner and it is standard policy on a lot of
lists. Gratuitously mentioning and impliedly recommending illegal
software is not allowed.
If someone wants to
express a general opinion about when it is ethically acceptable to use
illegal software, as I understand list policy, that is allowed.
Promoting or discussing specific programs is not.
I support this list
policy. It doesn't matter what my personal feelings are about when and
if it is justifiable to use illegal software as an ethical question.
As moderator, I am responsible for enforcing list policy. The policy
is in place not because of the views of those who run the list on the the
question. It is in place because promoting illegal software exposes
the list to legal liability. If people continue to disregard my
warnings on this subject, they will be moderated temporarily. I'm
sorry to have to send this kind of stern message. I moderate with a
lite toch whenever possible. But it's time for such discussions and
implied endorsements to stop.
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