Didn’t read through this thread, just wanted to point out that a nickel’s worth of anything free is an awful lot of stuff you’re asking for. 
Yeah, but hey! I wanted to get my money’s worth…
Ummm…to whom should I mail the nickel?
-David
Did the copy of AOL 6 that the guys downloaded have any Permission to copy or distribute clauses anywhere in it? You know, like how some shareware says “You may distribute copies of this software so long as you make no alterations and include everything, including this legal notice.”
Without such a clause, standard copyright laws apply and distributing copies is illegal.
I want to start by saying that I think AOL is in the right here, for the same reasons others have already said.
I also wonder why AOL cares. I mean, they distribute all their software for free, it’s the use of it that they charge for, right?
All I can think of is that if the pre-alpha version gets out there, it could cause problems and they don’t want anyone to blame them for it.
Or they could be motivated by a sort of obligation to make sure the consumer gets a worthwhile product…
I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail.