Fighting to Preserve Old Programs

Brewster Kahle and his nonprofit Internet Archive want the world to know that old software is an important part of our cultural history and -- like books, films and other media -- should be preserved. The problem is, most software is stored on media that is rapidly degrading. Before long, the data on those original WordStar or Lotus 1-2-3 floppies will be about as useful as a piece of cardboard. Kahle's organization has petitioned the U.S. Copyright Office about the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA, which governs the circumvention of anti-piracy measures, seeking exemptions from provisions that prohibit the archiving of software titles. If the Copyright Office says no, Kahle fears millions of programs eventually will be lost forever.

http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,60770,00.html
(Wired News Oct. 14, 2003)

Posted by Tom on October 17, 2003