#1 If you state that its a free product, then it should be available, by definition, to everyone at the same time and under the same conditions, for free.
Thats free (as in beer (gratis)) and not free (as in speech(libre)). Its free in the sense there is no charge, not in the sense you can do anything you want with it. #1, right out.
#2 So you think that every gaming site should work out an exclusive? Maybe we can have 10 different demos, and the developers can spend 6 months getting all the exlusives ready. Get real. Or, they could release 1 demo, free of chare to everyone, and the EVERYONE is happy.
Nope, but if you don't want to work out a deal, don't whine. Thats the free (as in speech) market. If you pay for something you get something. Dont expect everything for free (as in beer).
#3 You suggest that these sites are harming the distribution of a free product? And Fileplanet, they're not? All of the above sites have always hosted demos for free, while Fileplanet requires you to pay for the same amount of convenience.
I was writing a parody of the letter, so I was proposing that the purpose was the threat of harming this distribution. Remember again, thats its free (gratis), not free (libre). Its free (gratis) for fileplanet subscribers, but not free (libre) to the world. A demo is still protected by copyright afterall...
Once again, let me repeat this. It is EXPECTED that demos are free. I don't care if Webster's defines it that way, that is the way the gaming public defines it, and has always defined it. And you suggest that we let a few greedy webmasters change that defintion? Demos, though they may be fun, are a merketing tool. They are not (or rarely) a service meant only to entertain the gaming public. The companies put out the demos so that people will buy their products. This is the same as paying money to watch a TV commerical.
And yet the still have commercials on cable TV. *cough* Have they said they won't release a demo for everyone? Lets face it, those sites, including blues, are out for the lost ad revenue because of this demo AND because of new fileplanet sign-ups that will make people leave the other download sites altogether. Protesting like this is trying to shut down their right to association and free (as in libre) trade. Do you support your right for free (as in beer) over your freedom (as in speech)?