Abandonware, what is it?

[AWACS 12]

Or more to the point is it cool (legal)? I was looking for the music of an old computer game, "Alone in the Dark" (it's a classical piece, something ronde something, if you know please tell me) and came across a site filled with abandonware, the first thing I did was go to the simulation section and found a simulator called "A320 Airbus" from like 92' (anyone ever heard of this, looks neat for something so old) or so, and I was going to download it, just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't be considered a "pirate, arghhh." Thanks,Jeff

[jcmissionary 6]

From my understanding, Abandonware is usually a program that is either so old that the original writer is out of business, or is so old that the writer doesn't care about the copyright anymore. Without talking to the original copyright holder, though, it would be difficult to know for sure if this program is abandoned, or not.

[RobertVA 0]

The problem is when somebody decides they want to care again, then it's time for some attorneys to obtain LOTS of YOUR money. The expiration on copyright isn't anywhere NEAR as short as on patents and the earliest PC and game console applications marketed for consumers aren't anywhere near old enough. The attorney fees could get very expensive arguing that whoever last bought the rights wasn't diligent about discovering and prosecuting violators.It probably needs to be explicitly declared "public domain" by whoever actually owns the rights.Centuries old music would be old enough for any rights on the sheet music to have expired BUT the particular performance or recording of that piece by an artist or orchestra would probably be subject to copyright.

[Guest christianholmes]

There is a site "home of the underdogs" that actually does extensive searches and doesn't host copyrighted software- although they too can fall victim to the "even though the original IP holder said they didn't want it a year ago, they changed their minds". That being said, that site is pretty well respected and not considered a pirate site- so legal action against them would be less likely that some of the other sites. They also tell you the status of much of software and companies so you could certainly make an informed decision.http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?id=2473I love browsing the site, and playing some of the older games.

[Mace 1,926]

>Or more to the point is it cool (legal)? I was looking for>the music of an old computer game, "Alone in the Dark" (it'sI remember that game! That game scared the h out me back then. A friend of mine had it.I don't remember the music though. A "rondo" is a generic italian term for a particular type of baroque chamber music. So it could be anything -- Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, etc...RhettAMD 3700+ (@2310 mhz), eVGA 7800GT 256 (Guru3D 93.71), ASUS A8N-E, PC Power 510 SLI, 2 GB Corsair XMS 2.5-3-3-8 (1T), WD 250 gig 7200 rpm SATA2, CoolerMaster Praetorian case

[Gavin 99]

found a simulator called "A320 Airbus" from like>92' (anyone ever heard of this, looks neat for something so>old) I think I had that on my Amiga years ago. Loved it at the time, but we've come a long way since then :-)

[enyap 0]

A Rondo is a musical form with the pattern ABACADA etc. often used as the last movement in the classical period,(as in Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven). It isn't specifically baroque or limited to chamber music. John

[jagabom 21]

I've stilll got the approach charts that came with A320 AIRBUS but can't find the program. Must have thrown it out.JimCYWG

[boshar 6]

My guess is that you are talking about this one:http://www.flightmedia.de/index.htmlThe german text says that all Amiga verions can be used as freeware (as long as you don't distribute it commercially). There is also a never released Ju52 trainer that is released as freeware.The PC version of this game is still commercially available and its stil in active development! You can download a PC demo at this site ( http://www.flightxpress.de/files/0702/ande.../a320IIdemo.exe )that is free to use. It has a limited flying area but is fully useable.http://www.flightmedia.de/FS_A320_II/MalagaAppr.gifScreenshot of the PC version