Readers,

I have had to remove download links for Jolly07's F22 2008 program from the site. I have also asked Jolly to delete any references to SimHQ from the software package itself.

I didn't want to do that, it really bothers me to go that route. Unfortunately, our Terms of Service are such that we cannot permit what F22 2008 is: A free copy of the entire TAW game to anyone who wants to download it. Digital Image Design copyrights are owned by Atari, the successor to Rage PLC, and Martin Kenwright owns the source code for Eurofighter 2000 and Total Air War. This is intellectual property belonging to those persons and entitites. They have not advised us that distribution of their game for free is permissible.

Please understand: We applaud the work you all have done; it is inventive, it resurrects a classic of the air combat simulation genre, and it truly does enhance the user experience. But SimHQ is user-run and staffed. Our owner and President, guod, pays for the site out of his own pocket and whatever limited ad revenues we get. Our staff are all volunteer, and none are independently wealthy. We cannot afford a protracted legal fight over obscure intellectual property concepts such as "abandonware" or fair use of old software packages that are no longer in production.

For now, I will not remove links to mods that are truly modifications and require prior ownership of the Total Air War software to work. If we receive any communications from Atari or Mr. Kenwright regarding this, however, we will act as they ask. As for free copies of the F22 ADF, EF2000, or Total Air War software, we cannot permit this to be distributed via SimHQ without express permission of the owners of this intellectual property.

Thanks for your understanding.

Miao, Cat