abandonware

Abandonware is a term for software, typically computer or video games, that are no longer for sale by conventional means, or supported by the creator. In many cases the abandoned software was distributed by websites, such as warez, for free. The use of the "abandonware" term is controversial, as distributing out of print software and games is still considered software piracy, and their copyright is not actually abandoned. Some publishers actively file Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedowns of abandonware and defend its copyright, while others do not. Meanwhile, some video game historians believe that this distribution is justified to preserve history given the lack of viable alternatives.

==Implications== If a software product reaches end-of-life and becomes abandonware, users are confronted with several potential problems: missing purchase availability (besides used software) and missing technical support, e.g. compatibility fixes for newer hardware and operating systems. These problems are exacerbated if software is bound to physical media with a limited life-expectancy (floppy disks, optical media etc.) and backups are impossible because of copy protection or copyright law. If a software is distributed only in a digital, DRM-locked form or as SaaS, the shutdown of the servers will lead to a public loss of the software. If the software product is without alternatives, the missing replacement availability becomes a challenge for continued software usage.