The Sinclair QL Forum

Derek_Stewart wrote:Do response from Adder Technology, so if there is nothing forth comming I will apply a Open Source Licence to the scanned text, which has many corrections to be a Community Edition.

I hate to be a party pooper Derek, but if there's no response from Adder, I'm afraid you cannot apply any licence to the scan. The copyright on the scanned text still remains with Adder, plus, the copyright page explicitly states "no part of this book may b copied or stored by any means whatsoever whether mechanical, photographic or electronic, except for private or study use as defined in the Copyright Act."



They may not respond for your letter asking permission, but I suspect they will respond if they find out your intentions.

Cheers,
Norm.

Probably precisely why Derek should threaten to go ahead. If it's the only way to provoke a reply from them (although granted it might not be the response he wants).

Hi Dilwyn,

I suspect that the response may well be nothing more than "cease and desist"! While completely ignoring Derek's original request.


Cheers,
Norm.

And I agree. But experience has often shown me that if I want information, I make a deliberate "mistake" when asking. Human nature being human nature (and it applies to some extent on the QL scene too) they will be unable to resist the temptation to correct you, and so you will have usually got the answer you want in the end, by hook or by crook.

Hi

Okay, I will keep the completed text personal.

Pity...

Sorry Derek.

But you never know, Adder might respond, maybe. Hopefully they will.

Cheers,
Norm.

Dilwyn wrote:... if I want information, I make a deliberate "mistake" when asking. Human nature being human nature (and it applies to some extent on the QL scene too) they will be unable to resist the temptation to correct you, ...

Tee hee! I like your deviousness here, using people against themselves!

Cheers,
Norm.

NormanDunbar wrote:

Dilwyn wrote:... if I want information, I make a deliberate "mistake" when asking. Human nature being human nature (and it applies to some extent on the QL scene too) they will be unable to resist the temptation to correct you, ...

Tee hee! I like your deviousness here, using people against themselves!

Cheers,
Norm.

It was somebody else who taught me that one at work some years ago!
Obviously, don't overdo the "little mistake" - it can backfire horrendously with the wrong person.

When I was at work and needed to shut down a system, we used to ask if it was still used. We never got replies, so couldn't shut it down willy-nilly.

After a few occasions of net getting anywhere, we simply sent an email around everyone saying "Application XXXX is obviously, no longer used, and so, will be shut down on <insert date> and removed from the system.". Amazingly, we used to get replies saying"hang on, I use that every week, you can't shut it down." -- sometimes you simply have to be devious/evil!

Cheers,
Norm.

...so do I send Adder Technology a notice, that I intend to publish the "The Advanced QL Manual" into the Public Domain, making all the contents of the book including software examples Open Source?

What period of notice fo you think is appropriate?