Bob Hughes wrote:
> The point being, do people intend their uploads to become downloads.  Quite a
> simple solution until the objects in question are meant to be downloaded from
> specific places only.  This is going to be the main factor.

This is a good point. In many cases, it's not so much that people
object to others sharing what they have already given away with the
intent of sharing... it's the desire to maintain control over the
packages that's distributed (compare this to POV-Legal's reasoning)
either to ensure what is distributed in your name is really what
you created, or to ensure outdated versions aren't still being
handed out as the latest greatest. 

I think if the macro is already available from some other site, you 
should simply put a link to that site, and perhaps your own 
description of what it is and does, and perhaps a quick review of
your own experience with it. That way, you have content for your
own site, you develop a one stop comprehensive list of what's 
available, which everyone will appreciate, and the author 
maintains control over what gets released. And who is going to 
complain about you throwing web traffic in their direction? 

And it's not an either-or situation: You can always publicly offer 
to host a copy of the macro in the event the author ever doesn't 
want to maintain their own site anymore, as well as distributing 
macros for people who don't have a site of their own, which also 
would be a valuable service.

Post a reply to this message