Maybe I'm lazy or blind, but I cannot find a working email address for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Softdisk, even though afaik the company is still around. (Guess they don't want to be contacted?) I found info@softdisk, but that failed to deliver.

Anyways, I'll keep looking tomorrow evening (I do think I have some employee leads, but nothing "sure" afai can tell), but it's beddy-bye for me right now. Figured I'd see if the community would do some work for me, because that's why I love you all.

I've only found contact information for Flat Rock Software, as mentioned in that thread.

WHOIS information for softdisk.com mentions "Scroggin, Phyllis phyllis@bayou.com"

Right, I messaged you (thanks again) and used that email address to send a message to Flat Rock expressing hope for games like Dave, Catacomb, etc. to appear here. However, I wasn't sure if maybe Softdisk still had certain rights to the games, since they developed them, so I was going to contact them and also express interest and hope that the games would appear here.

Anyways, thanks for the bayou address. I'll try using that. :)

I know. Your PM was specifically about Flat Rock. That guys is going to start wondering who these GOG vigilantes are. lol

I'm not sure whether that bayou address is a lead or not. I had also tried emailing Softdisk awhile back (before I knew about Flat Rock) and didn't get any answer. A Google search for "@softdisk.com" shows a few email addresses for that domain, but I'm not sure whether they were employees or who they are.

For games in the early 90s like Catacomb, weren't the rights to publish passed down from Softdisk to other budget publishers? If that's the case, the rights should be floating in game limbo now. I also remember reading somewhere that there was a change in management in the mid 90s that led to their inactivity (but I may be confusing them with another company).

Lately I've been interested in tracking down games from my childhood (and old games), and trying to see what games have a chance of getting on here. I've actually heard from a few people that they would contact GOG. (The games they created were quite good, imo, one like DX-Ball and the other like Raptor, but I suggested a "free" release because while I didn't tell them this, they really aren't worth 5.99 on their own, even with the inclusion of their beastin' music as soundtracks.)

I think it is a lead, because according to the wiki page, "As of 2006, their Web site redirects to that of Bayou Internet, which has taken over their Internet operations. The downloadstore.com site formerly owned and operated by Softdisk is now run by Flat Rock Software, which also publishes former Softdisk product Screen Saver Studio" Maybe, but Flat Rock Software is selling/apparently managing some of Softdisk's games, like Dave and Catacomb. So I wanted to try to contact both.

Then I will do my part to get Dangerous Dave and Catacomb on to GOG too, comrades!

Their address is right at the bottom of the page:
5323 Pennsylvania Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80303 USA
How about being old school and sending them a letter through snail mail? For most publishers nowadays (Konami, Capcom, THQ, Activision, Square-Enx) this is the only way for the consumer to get in direct touch with the company anymore. I used to write to companies through snail mail all the time when I lived in the U.S. (and before we got a modem ^_^) and they always sent me back swag and coupons and stuff.

Easy.

Make a homepage. Sell Softdisk games for 5$. Wait for the CnD letter from the lawyers. Address will be under "plaintiff".

Disclaimer: Some cost might incur.

I wrote to Flat Rock about GOG and did get a response from them.. So Flat Rock is at least trying to get on GOG. After that, it's up to them to be able to work out a deal. That's Flat Rock Software, right? They have been contacted, but they appear to only have part of the Softdisk catalog since they're selling only a few of the games.

Ah, I see. Well, I also found this for identifying rights holders:
http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First
But it doesn't have some games or companies. It has Softdisk (Inc and Publishing) but not Inner Circle Creations or Alien Rampage for example. I don't know what it means if a company or title is not in their database, since it's supposed to have everything since 1978.

Thanks for the link, SCPM. There's also the Trademark Electronic Search System.

Searching for Softdisk, I find:

http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4001:pruc96.5.2
(I'm not sure if that link will work. but here are the contents:

Word Mark SOFTDISK
Goods and Services IC 009. US 038. G & S: full line of computer programs; namely, work productivity, home applications, and educational software. FIRST USE: 19811000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19811000
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 74018554
Filing Date January 12, 1990
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition July 28, 1992
Registration Number 1761065
Registration Date March 30, 1993
Owner (REGISTRANT) Softdisk, Inc. DBA Softdisk Publishing CORPORATION LOUISIANA 606 Common Street Shreveport LOUISIANA 71101

(LAST LISTED OWNER) SOFTDISK, LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY BY ASSIGNMENT LOUISIANA 606 COMMON STREET SHREVEPORT LOUISIANA 71130
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record RALPH W. KALISH, JR.
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL-2(F)
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20030606.
Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20030606
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

Searching Google for that street address shows that it is probably still valid. That bayou email address still might be your best bet, as you mention.

EDIT ------------------------------------

The Dangerous Dave copyright seems to be under id Software:
Copyright Search
Result Details
All titles in the document

Well, phooey. :P Oh well, it was worth a try.

Who knows, though... Flat Rock is selling Dangerous Dave... it still might be possible.

EDIT:
Just to note: holding the copyright doesn't mean that others don't have a license to sell and distribute the software...