Conference rusure::nintendo

    I've pretty much stopped buying any games that I haven't tried. I
    will make an exception when I read the reiviews in this conference and
    they are good (i.e. Ultima). But, I bought at least 3 games that I
    don't like at all. So, I either rent, borrow, or at least read the
    reviews in here before buying....
    
    I'd be very disappointed to see the REntal business disappear. I
    honestly think it would cut into sales. Nintendo should find a way to
    control the rental biz and make some money at it.
    
    JoJ

    If rentals are a big problem, then raise the price! If people aren't
    buying enough, then lower the price! What's the matter with these
    people, anyway? A copyright is a COPY RIGHT. They don't have a leg to
    stand on.
    						John.

    Is Nintendo going to kill their goose that laid the golden egg with
    *GREED*.
    
    I also believe that the rental business helps the sales.  If we
    rent something that we like, we buy the game. Our total count of
    games is about 30.  I think I'd be less likely to buy a $55.00 game
    if I couldn't get some feedback on it first, though I must admit
    I plunked down $54.00 for ULTIMA because it *LOOKED GOOD*.  
    
    Further, if they (Nintendo) outlaws rentals, I'm rebel enough to
    stop buying games as a matter of principle.  There are a lot of
    new engines coming out.
    

    I was in Albertsons here in Colorado Springs the other day and none
    of the nintendo games had instructions. I asked the gal behind the
    counter and she said Albertsons pulled all the instructions from
    the games because the were not the *original* ones but copies and
    that NINTENDO has a lawsuite pending against BLOCKBUSTER VIDEOS
    for doing the same thing, copyright enfringment (sp?). Now Albertsons
    has to purchase extra *original* instructions from Nintendo to place
    in the multiple copies of their games.  Albertsons pulled the copies
    before they got caught.
    
    Has anyone else heard of such actions ????
    
    -Flash :-)

    I will not spend another cent on a NINTENDO game unless I can rent it
    first. I have been burned twice by games that look good and perform
    terribly. All stores that sell NINTENDO should let you try a game
    before you buy it.
                            Ed

    Nintendo is trying to make renting games ILLEGAL.  Not just copying
    instructions, but renting a game without any copying would be illegal
    without permission from the publisher.
    
    Some time ago, Senator Orrin Hatch proposed a bill that would make
    lending or renting computer software illegal, except for non-profit
    libraries.  During the process, an exception was added for games.  Now
    Nintendo is objecting to the exception.  See the text below.
    
    Please, take a few minutes to perform these steps:
    
    	Look up your Senators in your White Pages under "United States
    	Government" sub-category "Congress", or call your local
    	library or city clerk for your Senators' phone numbers.
    
    	Call your Senators and tell them your opinion of the
    	Software Rental Act.  It's easy; they may just ask for
    	your name and address and your position on the bill.
    
    
    				-- edp
    
From: FRANK%[email protected] (Frank Connolly)
Subject: Status on Software Rental Bill
Lines: 53
 
 
 
 
                          Status Report
                               on
           The Computer Software Rental Amendments Act
 
                        November 16, 1989
 
     There's good news and not so good news!  There is no bad news.
 
     This morning (Thursday, November 16) the Senate Judiciary Committee
met and briefly considered the Computer Software Rental Amendemnts Act of
1989.  Earlier this week, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the sponsor of the
legislation, circulated an amendment to the bill.  The proposed change he
circulated was the wording we had agreed to with ADAPSO and SPA with
one minor addition.  The addition is to exempt nonprofit educational
institutions loaning software between institutions, as well as with
their own students and faculty.
 
     In today's session, Sen. Hatch moved for the legislation to be
passed by the Judiciary Committee WITH THIS AMENDMENT (i.e. we won!).
But, immediately Sen. Grassley (R-Iowa) objected to considering the bill.
It turns out that the Nintendo Corporation (the Japenese firm that
makes Nintendo Games) has contacted Grassley's office to object to the
exemption that computer games HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN in this Bill.
Computer game manufacturers and libraries had changes introduced
at the Subcommittee level exempting them from the restrictions of the
legislation. Ninetendo has now concluded that this is not in their long
term interests and have bolted from the computer game manufacturers.
agreement.
 
     The net effect of all this is that THERE WAS NO VOTE on the Software
Rental Bill today.  It appears unlikely there will be a vote before the
Thanksgiving break.  It is most likely this legislation will not be
reconsidered by the Senate until it reconvenes in January.
 
    There has been no hearing scheduled on the specific legislation in
the House -- although one can presume no action will occur until Nintendo
and the other games manufacturers reach some form of agreement.
 
     Last week, Steve Gilbert (VP, EDUCOM) did testify at a background
hearing before the House Judiciary Committee looking into Intellectual
Property and computer software issues in general.
 
     What to do in the meantime.  Stay tuned.  It appears we have won the
exemption we sought as no one objected to the change Hatch introduced.
That seems to mean we hang in and watch the hassle, making sure that our
interests are neither forgotten nor compromised as the others tussle.
When the Bill is back on track, I'll let you know.  If our interests are
in danger, I'll not only let you know, I'll ask for your help.
 
     Thanks for your help to date.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

    RE: .5 & .6
    
    FWIW, Blockbuster Video Stores and Walgreen's Drug Stores are two
    sources I know of which rent Nintendo games. Whether all Blockbuster's
    and Walgreen's do so, I don't know. Our local Blockbuster's rental fee
    is $4, with the cartridge to be returned by midnight two days later.
    
    /Dwayne
    

    BEATING THE SYSTEM
     
    
       I am not sure if this belongs here but, I have bought a few games
    without renting first. Only to fimd that I did not like them. Solution
    I simply bring them back to the store at which I purchased said
    tape and tell them it did not interest me. If they give me any problem
    I remind them of the 3 day law which states you have three days
    to cancel any contract for any reason. They don't give me any problems
    after that. Most times I will take a credit because I know I will
    be buying another tape sooner or later.
    
                                        Hope this has helped
    

    
    	That's quite interesting!  I'll have to try that with some of
    	my Compact Disc purchases, too.  Thanks.
    
    								 Mike
    

.8

>>>    ... I remind them of the 3 day law which states you have three days
>>>    to cancel any contract for any reason. 

	What is the name of this law?  Does it apply federally, or just 
on a state by state basis?  If it's by state what state do you live in?

						- Rick -

    Rick,
    	As an attorney, I would suggest that each state may or may have
    some such legislation allowing a purchaser (almost always a "consumer")
    a short (24-72 hours) period of time to change his/her mind. Not
    all contracts are covered by such legislation, and it would be unwise
    to assume so. For any information, I would suggest that each reader
    can check locally with their Attorney General's "consumer protection"
    type bureau, and for those living in a large city, that city's
    "consumer protection" agency. The names will vary from locale to
    locale. Another source of info is you local better business bureau.
    	One general point that I would suggest is that everyone should
    keep accurate records of your telephone calls when complaining and/or
    getting information. This record should be made as contemporaneously
    as possible to the actual time of the call and should be detailed--get
    the name of the person you are speaking to at all times, note the
    date and time called.
    	My bill will be in the e-mail. 8^)
    
    Blues
    

    No news in almost two years?
    
    Since ENDLESS VIDEO (Shrewsbury MA) is still renting Nintendo games,
    I think it's safe to say that Nintendo hasn't won yet......
    
    Anyone heard anything?
    
    						--Eric--