CompuServe Messages

Doug… Any type of commercial gain from a beta copy (or press copy) of 3D Studio is prohibited (that's the word I got from my contact at Adesk last year when I reviewed it… Sorry I can't remember his name at the moment). I've adhered to that policy strictly. When I do feel that my animation and modeling skills are pro-enough to to make money off them, then yes, I will * purchase * a commercial copy of 3DS2. For the time being, I'm just happy to relate the benefits of using this software to other users (via my reviews in Byte of it and other Adesk products). My voice number is posted publicly on Bix. I've received calls from probably a dozen or so people that have went ahead and purchased 3DS after speaking with me (the calls have ranged from NYC, Mexico and Japan). Even though I feel that I was directly responsible for these sales for Adesk, that still does not give me the right to profit from my reviewer's copy of the software by generating commercial stills and/or animations. (I do post a lot of my stuff as public domain however). I've shown our local PBS station 3DSr2 (the release version) just recently. Though they are Topas users, they are `jazzed' about 3DSr2 and will more than likely buy a number of copies of the software in the near future. As payment for services, I'll probably receive one of the purchased copies. What goes around comes around I always say. In this case, ethics proved right (plus made additional sales for Adesk). – Greg