Sorcerer Software Users Newsletter Issue 0204 Welcome to our monthly newsletter, covering the latest updates, tips, and user questions about our software programs. If you have an issue or question you would like to see addressed in a future newsletter, either by me or by your fellow users, please email me and I'll include it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 30, 2002 CONTENTS: 1. CD Stripper and copyright protection. Again. 2. The Abacus 3. Envelope Printer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CD Stripper http://www.sorcerersoftware.com/cdstrip.htm We have reported previously of the ongoing saga of copyrighting for the protection of artists and distributers. This is an issue pitting users' rights against the producers and their allies as it applies to digital music. We certainly believe in copyright protection for producers of digital music, as we are in a closely related business. But we also believe that consumers have a right to play their digital music however they wish, as long as they do not illegally distribute it -- ie, sell it or give it away -- to others. Recently a Dutch court ruled in favor of consumers in an opinion that we repeat here, via Reuters news: "LONDON (Reuters) - In a setback for efforts to halt copyright abuse, a Dutch appeals court on Thursday told a technology firm it could distribute a software program that is designed to let users share music and films on the Internet. The ruling in the case between Internet software company KaZaA and Dutch music rights organization Buma Stemra overturned a decision in November in favor of the music industry. The music industry says rampant online piracy has severely damaged recording sales and the movie industry fears the same could happen to it as computers become more powerful. The Amsterdam Court of Justice ruled that KaZaA was not liable for any individuals' abuse of its software, which is being used by millions of people around the world every day to swap copyright-protected games, music, pictures and films. "We are stunned by the verdict," a Buma Stemra spokesman in the Netherlands said, adding the organization could appeal further to the High Court. But Niklas Zennstrom, the Swedish founder of Netherlands-based KaZaA and its technology provider Fasttrack, heralded the decision as "a great victory for our company and for the whole technology sector." However, he also said the ruling came too late to save KaZaA, whose main assets were sold after the initial ruling last year to Australian company Sharman Networks. Zennstrom continues to run Fasttrack, which developed and licenses the file- swapping software used by KaZaA and its U.S. peer Grokster. Both companies, and their rival Morpheus MusicCity, are still facing a court battle against music and film industry trade groups Recording Industry Association of America (news - web sites) and Motion Picture Association of America, which is expected to start in October. KaZaA attorney Christiaan Alberdingk Thijm expected the Dutch ruling to be closely watched in the U.S., as his defense was partly built on a 1984 U.S. Supreme Court (news - web sites) ruling which said manufacturers of video recorders are not liable if consumers use their products to abuse copyrights. "This is not just about KaZaA. It also affects producers of digital recording devices," he said. These would include DVD recorders from Philips and Panasonic , and digital TV recorders from TiVo (news - web sites) . The Dutch ruling is in stark contrast to last year's decision in which a U.S. judge forced Napster (news - web sites), the original file-swapping Internet service, to cease operation until it could guarantee that there was no copyright infringement on its network. Unlike Napster, KaZaA and its peers do not operate a central server connecting different users and enabling them to transfer files. KaZaA has claimed in its defense that it was unable to control usage after its "peer-to-peer" software has been installed on PCs." By the way, we use the KaZaA Media Desktop program and like it. Recommended. The current CD Stripper build is 020102. If you have an earlier build of version 4.0, you may want to download and upgrade to this build. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Abacus http://www.TheAbacus.biz I have been looking over the tech support questions for the last month, and the largest single category of problems continues to relate to the issue of upgrading from version 2.1 to version 3.0. We discussed this in last month's newsletter, and if you upgraded are having any problems, you should check the March newsletter. Basically, here's the problem: The old Abacus (version 2.1) used a helper file named "abacus.dll". The new Abacus (version 3.0) also uses a helper file, and it is named "abacus30.dll". But sometimes the Abacus gets confused if you have the new Abacus, but the old Abacus helper file is still on your computer. If you have upgraded, I would suggest you check to see if this file ("abacus.dll") is present on your computer; if it is, delete it. You may save yourself some headaches down the road. The second and related part of this issue involves a file named "abacus.ini" which you will find in your "Abacus" folder ("c:\abacus"). Both versions 2.1 and 3.0 of Abacus use this file, but in different ways. So if you upgraded and are having problems, and you have already deleted the file "abacus.dll" (if it was present), the next step is to delete the file "abacus.ini". The Abacus will create a new one the next time you start the program, and at that time the Abacus will figure out what changes to make and fix the problem for you. However, you will also be asked again for your unlock code... so have it handy. One final note: We have posted a new build of the Abacus on our web site. This new build, 020423, provides two enhancements: improvements in counting headers and footers, and improvements in counting bold/italicized/underlined characters. If you do not use these features, there is no point in upgrading. If you do, it might be a worthwhile download. The current Abacus build is 020423. If you have an earlier build of version 3.0, you may want to download and upgrade to this build. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Envelope Printer http://www.sorcerersoftware.com/envelope.htm We are currently working on implementation of user recommendations to enhance the program. Nothing earthshaking, but we are always trying to make the program easier to use and a better value for your dollar. Keep an eye on the web site and as soon as the new build is available, it will be posted there first. The current Envelope Printer build is 020322 of version 6.1. If you have an earlier build or version 6.0, you may want to download and upgrade to this build and version. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That's all, folks. Look for our next newsletter in about 4 weeks... -- Bill bill@sorcerersoftware.com Sorcerer Software http://www.sorcerersoftware.com To read all the old newsletters, go to: http://www.sorcerersoftware.com/archives.htm To be removed from our mailing list, send me an email with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.