ULTRACADE Discontinued as of 9/01/05

[Stingray]

You write a program, sell it. Works great on that 5.25" floppy...  15 years later, I pick it up and make it 50 times better: more features, lots of bells and whistles, make it work on a current O/S. I give you credit, and don't charge a dime for it. What are your thoughts on that scenario?

This question is directed at Chad, but I'm going to giv my take on it anyway. I think it would be great for you to update this hypothetical software provided you asked for and recieved permission to do so. This is exactly why copyright laws are in place, right?

-S

Ah, but what if he is unreachable? Or as a corporate entity no more? The key to my point is that it has been abandoned, and I am not profiting...

Chad raises an interesting question that as a non-programmer, I had not considered. Where would you get the source code if you cannot contact the author or corporate entity that owns this IP?

In any case, I'd have to say that if permission cannot be obtained then the only legal recourse you would have would be to re-write the app. Of course you could just go ahead with it anyway and see what happens. I'm always all for shaking the hornets' nest to see what flies out.

-S

[Stingray]

However, they have abandoned this stuff, in most cases. Since you are so fond of lumping IP into a physical sense: they threw it in the garbage. I picked it out of the garbage, and now I can use it. So there! I am a garbage picker!

Actually, they decided that it wasn't that important anymore and so they stuck it on the high shelf in an unused bedroom. You snuck in and grabbed it when nobody was looking, which would make you a burglar.

-S

[Havok]

By the way, Ultracade sux.

[ChadTower]

Once, again, it comes down to "I want it, I can steal it, so I will."

The law is clear and you have provided no convincing arguments that it should be changed other than that it would be nice for you.

It's not a moral argument, it is a legal one.

[Havok]

Once, again, it comes down to "I want it, I can steal it, so I will."

The law is clear and you have provided no convincing arguments that it should be changed other than that it would be nice for you.

It's not a moral argument, it is a legal one.

Law is anything but clear. You are over-simplifying. Just as in life, in law there are extenuating circumstances, and abandonware in my mind is one of them. It appears to me you are blurring your past experience with a current product that you cared about, and a product that is old and forgotten.

How many e-mails did you get today on that software you stopped writing?

[Dartful Dodger]

People who don't have an intellect can't understand intellectual property. 

You might as well be explaining it to a box of rocks.

[ChadTower]

Ouch, but I think that's the peanut gallery telling me I'm wasting my time.

[Havok]

People who don't have an intellect can't understand intellectual property.

[MaximRecoil]

You're confusing patents with copyrights.

[ChadTower]

Yep, I have considered it in the past.  As I have learned more about MAME, its community, and in general what it is all about, I decided not to build either of those projects.

[MaximRecoil]

Yep, I have considered it in the past.

[ChadTower]

Oh, the LCD I mentioned there wasn't going to be MAME, I don't think.  Every LCD based cab is not MAME.

[Stingray]

You know that Chad only argues for the sake of argument right?

-S

[MaximRecoil]

Oh, the LCD I mentioned there wasn't going to be MAME, I don't think.

[Dartful Dodger]

BUSTED!!!

[mr.Curmudgeon]

You know that Chad only argues for the sake of argument right?

-S

WINNER!!!!


mrC

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Yep, I have considered it in the past.  As I have learned more about MAME, its community, and in general what it is all about, I decided not to build either of those projects.

I'm intrigued...what do you mean by this? I don't get it.



mrC

[ChadTower]

So, you're indicting me for discussing a MAME cab?

[ChadTower]

BTW, I'm also anti 300lb women in bikinis.

I am anti onions.

I am anti stupidity.

I am anti skunky beer.

I am, however, pro beef jerky.

[Crazy Cooter]

One issue that has been overlooked is that when an operator purchased the original game, there was no EULA.

[ChadTower]

Legally, they could go back.  All they have to do is prove they designed the PCB and wrote the code on the PROMs.  Since that would be very easy to do, current laws do apply to these items.

I don't see any use in comparing the wheel and the hammer to a modern PCB.  It isn't comparable. 

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a EULA that came in the original Op's warranty paperwork.

[Stingray]

BTW, I'm also anti 300lb women in bikinis.

I am anti onions.

I am anti stupidity.

I am anti skunky beer.

I am, however, pro beef jerky.

Aside from the onion thing, I agree with you on all counts.

-S

[ChadTower]

I hate onions.

[Crazy Cooter]

I've never seen a EULA and I was under the impression there was no way to go back.

Otherwise I really need to find the inventor of the wheels family and have them sign a seemingly worthless document that says "Cooter now owns the wheel".

[ChadTower]

Keep in mind that a lot of technology products, even back then, legally came with an implied EULA that included basic things like not being able to alter or reverse engineer the product.

[Stingray]

Onions aren't so bad if you give them a chance. Kind of like you.

-S

[MaximRecoil]

So, you're indicting me for discussing a MAME cab?

[ChadTower]

The original "vague, half thought out idea for an LCD based coffee table MAME cab" may have been close to a year ago but you "mentioned the cab to [your] wife a few weeks ago".

I believe that same day I mentioned putting a flaming moat of lava across the Mexican border, buying extra sharp cheddar more often, and that I didn't like her green shoes.

She was wearing the green shoes when she kicked me.

Hi, I'm Chad.  I say a lot of things.  Duck.

Anyway, while technically, your own actions have nothing to do with the validity of your arguments (i.e. being an alcoholic doesn't automatically render said alcoholic's anti-alcohol arguments null and void; for example); the term "hypocrite" does come to mind.

Hey, my opinion is just as useful and at least as stupid as the next guy's.  Standard disclaimers apply.  Opinions not valid in Vermont, Nevada, and Missouri.

[MaximRecoil]

I believe that same day I mentioned putting a flaming moat of lava across the Mexican border, buying extra sharp cheddar more often, and that I didn't like her green shoes.

Cabot Hunter's Seriously Sharp cheddar is pretty good.

[RayB]

I don't know many teens.

[ChadTower]

Cabot Hunter's Seriously Sharp cheddar is pretty good.

It is, I like that stuff.  Pricey, but good.

[danny_galaga]

When you pay $10.95 admission to see it in a museum.

damn, so i guess the battle of hastings isnt historical.

and since most major museums have free admission, then nothing they have to show is historical either...

[davidrfoley]

First of all, let's be clear on something.  UltraCade Technologies is not going out of business, nor have we discontinued the manufacturing of our flagship multi-game product, UltraCade.  Any information about this has obviously be misrepresented.  We are no longer stocking the 27" UltraCade system due to lack of demand.  We will continue to manufacture and sell the 27" on a order by order basis for our distribution network, but we will not stock the cabinets.  We are continuing the production and stocking of our universal kit and our 19" cabinet.  Most arcade products have a manufacturing run of 6 months to 2 years.  The fact that we have sustained a 5 year run is far beyond what most coin-op products do.  The rumors or any other misinformation that has been spewed here is without merit.

[Stingray]

Shouldn't you be off trying to trademark something?

-S

[davidrfoley]

Cooter, once again you spew misinformation, get your facts straight.  We legally distributed the Microsoft Return of Arcade product for our platform, which happened to be a legal means of distribution.  The CD contained a copy of the Namco ROMs that we used to play the game.  Namco cancelled Microsoft's right ot distribute that product, and Microsoft changed the EULA to prevent it from being used for public performance, which then triggered our discontinuation of the distribution of that product. 

[saint]

Just a reminder to everyone without specifically addressing anyone -- This is an open forum and people are free to speak their minds on their opinions here. However, such opinions should be tempered within the boundaries of the rules I've requested everyone follow in these forums. If you haven't read the rules lately (or at all), please take a moment to do so. Product discussions are open game, hate and flaming should be kept off these boards please, thanks!

--- saint

[ChadTower]

MMM, preemptive moderation.   

[Stingray]

Edit: Moderated myself to save Saint the trouble.

Edit #2: And it's just eating me up inside.

-S

[daywane]

Shouldn't you be off trying to trademark something?

-S

That is just plain funny

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Shouldn't you be off trying to trademark something?

*zing!*



mrC
P.S. Stingray, you are my new hero!