[torpid]

The original license terms never specified an end and the need of an "extension" or renewal when I bought this software in 97.

Like any other software company that have done similar things with free / lifetime software, he could have just dropped support for the original branded mIRC client, respun it into another program with most of the code base, add a few entirely useless features (maybe you can slap other people in channels with things other than large trouts!) and sell it under his new license model. He's still branding and selling it as mIRC. That's problematic.

[fnordpiglet]

It never specified anything about how licensing would be distributed did it?

He could have, you’re right. But he’s honoring the lifetime license instead. And all you have to do is read his appeal and email him to get the renewal key. And if you decide that’s what you want he will give you your key and you continue to enjoy your lifetime license.

How is this worse than ending mIrc v1 development and requiring a relicense for the next version? I’d argue “life time license is honored” is more honorable than “relicense the same product so I don’t have to honor the original deal.”

Am I missing something?

[torpid]

So I have to beg? A programmer so busy coding a high-demand bleeding edge IRC client all the kids are using that needs to resort to manual e-mail to distribute licenses to the people he owes it to, every one he has (or should have) the e-mail for that helped him pay the bills? Please.

[fnordpiglet]

These points feel unrelated to whether he is breaking the license terms. I mention in another comment the whole email cycle bit seems unnecessarily tedious, but so is irc.