Hi Tobias,

 TE> I remember him posting something like: "Someone told me my programs
 TE> will not work after 1/1/2000. This means you have xx months to find
 TE> a replacement. Good luck". This was one of the last mails he wrote
 TE> in this echomail area before he disappeared. 

Mm, that does sound as though his disappearance was intensional. 

 TE> So I don't think there was some "higher force" that made him
 TE> disappear suddenly. I think he just gave up fidonet because he was
 TE> disillusioned or perhaps even injured by the situation here. I have
 TE> heard rumours that he had some serious quarrels in fidonet, so
 TE> maybe his leaving without giving the sourcecode to anyone is sort
 TE> of a "revenge".

If it is, its not really acceptable since it affects people he had no
quarrel with at all.

 IW> Maybe he [...]

 TE> I don't think it is fair to start such rumours about any person, no
 TE> matter who. (Of course it was not fair of Gerard not to give the
 TE> source code to someone either, but that doesn't justify for
 TE> unfairness in the other direction). 

I agree about starting rumours, however, speculation is another matter.
His behaviour has left him open to that. And besides, its fun :)

 TE> But the example you brought shows one thing: Just because Gerard is
 TE> not visible any more does not mean that it gives us the right to
 TE> "crack" his programs. Maybe one day he reappears and wants to
 TE> reclaim copyright, and on this day I do not want to be the guy who
 TE> has removed the shareware key checker from his programs. 

I dont agree. It seems pretty clear that hes disappeared on purpose leaving
a lot of people in the lurch and anyone who can crack his programs will be
doing a lot of people a favour. However I can understand your feelings, Youve
already exposed yourself to trouble with the work youve done for which
we're all grateful. Why should you do more.


 TE> I tried to ask him for allowance to do this, but did not get an
 TE> answer, even though I proposed several modes on how to do it (like
 TE> he could have nothing to do with it at all, just sign that I am
 TE> allowed to do it, or like he could restart accepting registrations
 TE> and earning money from his software, etc....). 

Its very strange! He either never got your message or hes in a very bad
sulk indeed.

Bye now,
           Ian. 
--- FMail 1.22