AUA Announces: Anti-Piracy Movement 1991 ======================================== Your Voice CAN Make a Difference! Greetings Atari ST Enthusiasts, Many of you are already aware that software piracy in the Atari ST platform has reached epidemic proportions. Recently, an un-named individual, gained access to an alleged pirate BBS, a BBS set up for the sole purpose of collecting and distributing stolen commercial software, and captured his session to disk. He then uploaded the capture to the Z*Net BBS, node 593, for all to see. The contents of the text file was shocking and disappointing to read. Pirates will argue that the context was not of blatant piracy and that the talk going on in the captured messages was not of piracy and that nothing demonstrated was illegal. Then there are those of us who are intelligent enough to realize and understand that what we were reading was a cancer that has nearly destroyed the Atari ST software development progression and seriously damaged the possibility of a US advertising campaign by Atari Corp. I am not going to dispute what was present in the captured text files. That is too time consuming and has no end. The immature individuals who would argue that what we were reading was legal conversation are the same individuals who pirate software and do not think twice about it! Piracy, even in its most innocent state, is wrong and must be curbed immediately. The AUA up until this time has taken a rather passive, yet strong stance against software piracy. We have made information available to usergroups and individuals about the perils of software piracy and have for the most part of 2 years denounced piracy. But, after we reviewed the captured text from the supposed pirate BBS, we decided that it was time for someone to speak up, and since we have the largest voice of 1600 ST users, AUA seemed the most logical choice for noise. We have attached a form letter that we encourage you to read, sign, and mail to Atari Corporation and the International Association of Atari Developers (IAAD) to let them know that as conscious Atari ST users, we realize the need to begin a campaign against software piracy. Twenty-nine cents is all that we ask you to pledge to help begin this anti-piracy movement. For those who have not had the opportunity to review the mentioned text captures, we are making them available to everyone free of charge by sending a blank formatted disk and $1.00US (for postage and handling) to us and we will make sure that you get to see the shocking captures of how much piracy is taking command of the ST platform even as you read this. We will send you the latest copy of the NewsBriefs Disk Magazine dated August 1991 with all of the captures as our feature story. You will get a free copy of our magazine, and help to support our "ANTI-PIRACY MOVEMENT, 1991." ===================CUT HERE===================================== IAAD c/o Atari Corporation 1196 Borregas Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3427 Dear Sirs, I have seen ASCII captures of some of the pirate activities that have been occurring on Atari ST BBS systems and would like to express that I am both appalled and angry that such illegal activity is going on. While I realize that my voice is but a small one in a very large crowd, I believe that there is something that I can do to help put a stop to this crime. I am completely against any form of software piracy and wish to help in the fight to stop it all together and believe that it is time for Atari Corporation with the help of the IAAD, AUA, IADA, and SPA to bring these offenders to trial. Please give consideration to a multi-party united stance against software piracy at once! There are too many talented developers leaving the Atari ST platform because money is literally being stolen from their pockets. I believe that by combining forces, we can begin to curb software piracy and help the developers receive adequate compensation for their hard work. If there is anything that I can do as an individual, please let me know. Sincerely, YOUR NAME HERE Member of the AUA ===================CUT HERE===================================== I encourage you to print this letter, sign it, and get it in the mail to Atari as soon as possible. If I could make it easier for you to do or pay for your stamp, I would! If you have not seen the captures, and want to receive your free copy of the AUA NewsBriefs Disk Magazine, send $1.00US, blank formatted disk, and the following form to: The Atari Users Association Anti-Piracy Movement 1991 P.O. Box 123 Canonsburg, PA 15317 First Name:_____________________ LastName:______________________________ Address:________________________________________________________________ City:________________________________ ST:____ Zipcode:__________________ Country:_____________________________ Age:(optional)____________________ Telephone: __________________________ Occupation:_______________________ [ ] (Check here) Please find enclosed a blank formatted disk and $1.00 for postage and handling. Please rush to me a FREE copy of the AUA NewsBriefs Disk Magazine, August 1991 which contains the raw un- edited captures from alleged pirate BBS's. Show your support of Atari, Atari Developers, IAAD, AUA, IADA, and your local usergroup by mailing this letter to Atari! Your voice can make a difference!!!!!