Regarding my old Axis PC, Joy from Enola, Pennsylvania, recommended posting it to Freecycle (http://freecycle.org). Freecycle was founded in 2003 to provide "individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to "recycle" unwanted items." Joy said that on her list (local group) "someone rehabs them (computers) for poor kids and someone else takes them apart for usable components."
Regarding software copyright protection, Dan Rose (Dan's 20th Century Abandonware) sent me a lengthy email that emphasized the possible pitfalls in buying or selling copies:
"Many people don't realize that many old commercial software titles are still under copyright protection. Some think if they pick up an old title for cheap in a thrift store it's OK to copy it for friends or (gulp) make it available for download on the Internet. I once picked up a complete box set of AutoCAD 11 for DOS in a local thrift store that, when it was sold retail, went for $3,400.00. Even though I got it for a few bucks, if I made it available for download on my Web site, Autodesk, Inc. would shut me down and prosecute me because they enforce the copyright of every version of AutoCAD, no matter how old."
Dan also pointed out that there is no guarantee that an illegally downloaded version would not be accompanied by spyware or infected with a virus.
On the other hand, there are some situations where, according to Dan, it is legal to distribute a copy:
"Say, for example, someone was using WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS and the program became corrupted and needed to be reinstalled, and Disk 2 was defective. It is perfectly legal to offer a replacement for the WordPerfect media as long as the user is a licensed owner. The replacement does not have to be the original commercial media, it can be in the form of digital disk images and transmitted via electronic means over the Internet (exception: it can't be offered for download - an email attachment to the licensed owner is OK, though) or via Postal Service with the disk images on CD-ROM, or the disks can be recreated on another set of floppy disks and it is perfectly legal to send a non-original replacement copy to the licensed owner. Nearly every software license allows the purchaser to make at least one backup copy in case the original media fails. This also allows the legal owner to receive a backup copy of the same title and version as long as it is used in accordance with the software license."
Michele Alice is EcommerceBytes Update Contributing Editor. Michele is a freelance writer in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts. She collects books, science fiction memorabilia and more! Email her at makalice @ adelphia.net eBay ID: Malice9
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