All this software that isn't being sold anymore, why not make it freeware for everyone?
2007-10-17 07:14:46 · 5 answers · asked by photoguy1967 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
cuz....cuz.....cuz....IDK!!
people just suck sometimes =]
2007-10-17 08:02:20 · answer #1 · answered by xx Call me Lolo xx 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some of the smaller (and not so small) software houses do release old versions as freeware.
The main reason for not releasing older versions as freeware is to do with the process of software authoring, it's a progressive event and rarely is a package entirely re-written from the ground up. Instead a new version uses considerable amounts of exisiting (old) code that is enhanced with new modules etc.
There's also issues of reverse engineering illegal reselling and so on.
2007-10-17 14:36:36 · answer #2 · answered by Ian W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I can think of a couple of possible reasons. One is that they hope to make money off of it later on by re-releasing it. Two is that they hope to make money by suing people who illegally download it.
A third (and very weak) reason is that there is proprietary code in these programs and they are worried that someone may hack the program and get the code. Of course, this does not make too much sense. They sold it once. If someone was going to steal the code they would have done it then.
2007-10-17 14:20:05 · answer #3 · answered by A.Mercer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YEAH that's what I wanna know! There's a movement afoot to make obsolete software "public domain". Unfortunately, thing is, companies want to keep it copyrighted because SOME of the code and methods and algorithms and all that stuff in a piece of software may be passed on and used in new and current versions and they don't want that stuff freely distributed...
2007-10-17 14:21:58 · answer #4 · answered by fjpoblam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it still belongs to them, and they want you to pay for their newer versions!
If they give you the old version then you will never buy their new version.
They are there to make money not give things out for free!
2007-10-17 14:33:24 · answer #5 · answered by Venom 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋