From: Bob Stout 

As an author of code which has appeared in these publications and others,
I'm quite concerned about this. This prohibition would include all code
that I submitted for publication, despite the fact that I insisted that all
code be accepted as explicitly public domain or carrying an explicit free
use license, and despite your (DDJ, CUJ, Tech Specialist - now Windows
Developer's Journal) acceptance of those terms.

I have no problem with the magazines' conditions for distribution of my
accompanying text, but my agreement was that the *code itself* should be
free of any restrictions. I know that many other authors and contributors
had the same expectation. Moreover, there can be no justification for this
action since all of the code I have submitted for publication was first
published elsewhere with absolutely no restrictions. The same is true of
many other authors. And this doesn't begin to address the code which can
trace its roots back to the time before 1988 and which was published
without a proper copyright notice making it automatically public domain.

This is a bad policy. With little or no historic perspective of what you're
trying to restrict, you're making a legal mistake and ticking off a lot of
users and readers. The code which I submitted remains as free as the day I
submitted it and remains available from the SNIPPETS.ORG web site -
including variant/derivative versions and updates with bug fixes.

Hopefully, CMP will not make the same sort of PR blunder here that
Microsoft made this week, going after the kid with the MikeRoweSoft.com
domain. That the world of computing has since changed is no justification
for tearing up your historical agreements.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Consulting: http://www.MicroFirm.biz/ Web graphics development:
http://Image-Magicians.com/ Software archives:
http://snippets.snippets.org/
  c.snippets.org/   cpp.snippets.org/      java.snippets.org/
  d.snippets.org/   python.snippets.org/   perl.snippets.org/
  dos.snippets.org/ embedded.snippets.org/ apps.snippets.org/
Audio and loudspeaker design:
  http://LDSG.snippets.org/   http://www.diyspeakers.net/

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 21 Jan 2004 05:52:00 GMT
From: Janis.Kracht!1.261.38.0{at}filegate.net
Reply-To: SNIPPETS C programming conference 
To: c{at}snippets.org
Newsgroups: snippets.fido.c_echo
Subject: [C] DDJ Post

================posted to webmaster{at}ddj.com by Janis Kracht==============
Hello there,

In 1992, I was given permission from DDJ to collect and distribute the DDJ
source code files (only) in the Programmers' Distribution Network (PDN). 
The PDN is a free access, not-for-profit organization which sends shareware
and freeware files though the Fidonet Network, and now also through the web
and the internet using tcp/ip Fidonet Internet protocols.  I had taken over
the job as International Coordinator of the PDN from Erik Van Riper, who
started the PDN in about 1985.  Mr. Van Riper also had permission to
distribute these files from your offices. If I dig deep enough here, I may
be able to find the documention from DDJ's offices showing that both Mr.
Van Riper and I had received this permission, though I've moved a few times
since 1992 .

I've noticed that now the DDJ Journal page requires users to register for
access to these files, and I have signed up for Basic access.  I am
concerned, however, that I may have to stop distributing these files. Can
you please let me know if I may continue to distribute them?

Thank you for consideration.

Sincerely,
Janis M. Kracht

International Coordinator, Programmers' Distribution Network North American
Zone Coordinator, Fidonet Network

=======================================================================

The reply:


=======================================================================
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2004 09:04:13 -0500
From: Erickson 
To: janis{at}filegate.net
Cc: sgrayson{at}cmp.com, pwesterman{at}cmp.com
Subject: Dr. Dobb's Journal etc

Hi Janis,
Your inquiry about the status of Dr. Dobb's Journal source code being
posted on the Professional Developers Network (www.filegate.net/pdnnews/)
was forwarded to me. I'm sure you'll agree that the world of computing was
much different in 1992 than now and that in many instances we now operate
under a different set of rules. With that in mind, as Editorial Director
for CMP Media's Software Development Media Group, I ask that you
immediately remove from www.filegate.net/pdnnews/ all source code and
related files (including executables and text) for Dr. Dobb's Journal, Dr.
Dobb's Sourcebook, C/C++ Users Journal, Windows Developer Journal,
Microsoft Systems Journal, and Java Solutions (JavaNL). Moreover, although
I don't have responsibility for Game Developer magazine so cannot give
direction in that area,  I would suggest you contact that publication to
seek permission to post source code. I would like to say that Dr. Dobb's
Journal and the other publications are as committed to the free flow of
technical information as ever. However, we believe that in the best
interest of programmers in general and our readers and customers in
particular that users go to the respective web sites of the publications
for source code and related files. There are a number of reasons for this,
the least of which includes version control and bug fixes. I sincerely
apologize for the inconvenience that this will cause you, but insist that
you please immediately remove from filegate.net the source code from above
listed publications. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to
ask. Respectfully yours,

Jonathan Erickson
Editorial Director, SDMG
CMP Media LLC
jerickson{at}ddj.com
================================================================

Note:  GameDeveloper's Magazine sent me those files, I didn't download
them.. I'll wait for them to contact me, I would think.

Version control/bug fixes.. what a joke 

Ah well..

Take care,
Janis

-+- BBBS/LiI v4.01 Flag-5
 + Origin: Prism bbs (1:261/38)
_______________________________________________
C mailing list
C{at}snippets.org
http://www.snippets.org/mailman/listinfo/c
Gateway to the FidoNet C_Echo

--- BBBS/LiI v4.01 Flag-5