some thoughts on licenses....(kinda long)

[falcompsx]

First of all, I do NOT agree with it one bit. "But you should pay for the program you want to use." I agree with that, BUT if I buy a car car and have the tools to make another one identical to it then that's not illegal. I don't like the idea of having to buy two "copies" of a program to use on two computers in the same house. That's total BullS**T. I only have one computer, so it's not an issue for me other then agreeing with it. IT'S BULLS**T. That's like saying I need to buy two cars to drive to two different locations. I need only one. Microsoft(the worst of all, especially with their soon to be 'new' licenseing rules but that's a whole other post i'll do later) just want's money. I hate corporations in general. No good comes from *most* of them. I know i will get a lot of hostile replys, but i just needed to voice my opinion and mind.

[falcompsx]

I know MS isn't the only one to do this, but if I purchase a CD, that CD is MINE. F**K them. I'll do whatever the hell I want with the CD.

[Dputiger]

Actually, your car analogy is a good one. Having paid for a car, however, there's a ton you can't do with it.

You can't drive it any way you want too--you are required to observe certain rules and regulations. Furthermore, you are required to keep the vehicle within certain standards regarding noise and pollution, not to mention overall maintenance.

Furthermore, though you COULD duplicate a car, it would be illegal for you to place any company name upon it or for you to attempt to sell or profit from such an act. This would be viewed as an act of theft and misrepresentation.

You can't park your new vehicle anywhere you please. You can't drive it anywhere you please. You can't keep it in any condition that you please. In fact, you have to pay the government for the right to drive it down the street.

And before you turn your nose up TOO much at corporations, keep in mind that while they definitely have their flaws, they've produced staggering results. Corporate structure was largely refined in America circa 1900 (though forms of it have existed for centuries). This refining process, pioneered by Henry Ford, is considered one of the pivotal inventions that allowed mass production to be implemented and for vast increases in the standard of living for billions of people in dozens of countries.

Knock it if you will--but you can't deny its successes.

[falcompsx]

true, corperations did do a lot back then, but today they are so corupted it's not even funny. Also, you can keep you car in any condition you want. You can drive it however you want, where ever you want...on your own property. I'm not talking about giving copies of programs to everyone i know, but using it on two computers in my own house should not be a problem. That's like saying you can't park your car backwards in your own garage! Or that you have to keep your car registered even on private property, You DON'T HAVE TO. Private property should be just that, PRIVATE. Some regulations on private property are ok, such as you can't go murdering people on your property for no reason.

[Mntsnow]

Beaming this over to the SysOpt.community forum

Mntsnow

[chipbgt]

technically, I believe your allowed to load a copy of a program on to as many computers as you want..provided only one is being used at a time. I forgot where I heard this at though....

on a side note...CALM DOWN

[KillerBug]

I happen to agree, as for paying for the privelege to drive down a road, I built my own computer, and most of us own our own computer, owning your own computer is like owning your own strech of road, the government should have nothing to say about it, if I bought my own speedway and started driving a car around it withought a license, I would not be in trouble, no one would care. And if I made an exact copy of say a Porsche, it would not be illigal, if I started selling copies as Porsches, then I would be in trouble, but it I sold them as "look alikes" or "runs like a porsche" there would be no problems. Oh, and if you declair your own state (as in country) on your property, and make your own laws, then you can kill people, I kill people in Quake 3 and Carmageddon 2 all the time!

[alondra]

I fail to see the problem. I own (paid for) win 98 and word perfect 8 I have it on both my comps and when changed HD put it on them no problem. now if you want to burn a copy and give/sell it this is not right or legal. dont think they ever say you have to buy a copy for each comp (unless you are a business)
how much would it cost you to build that second car?

[This message has been edited by alondra (edited 06-28-2000).]

[mgordon99]

I don't like the car analogy. I think that a better one is when you purchase a music CD.
You are not allowed to copy the music and give it away or sell it. But the copyright certainly doesn't say that you can play the CD on only one CD player and no more, that would be ludicrous. Think of all the CD players one might have in their home. My point here is that computers are now becoming as common as stereos or televisions in the home. We are not restricted to play music CD’s in only one stereo, nor VHS tapes or DVD’s in one particular VCR or DVD player. Why should software be any different?

This also reminds me of cable television companies and how they used to charge you per every TV set in the home you wanted the cable signal on. I believe the cable companies got into hot water about that. I know with my cable company, it doesn’t matter how many sets are in my home, I pay the same rate.

[SysOpt]

Personally, I don't think companies really care too much if Joe Q. User buys one copy of a software app and installs it on his two home computers, and that's it (though their lawyers would disagree). But if they changed the wording of the license agreement to only require each person or entity to own one license, then 5000+ user companies would be buying one license as well and would install it on all their systems. Where is the line drawn? What's a "business" and what's an "individual"? SOHO's blur that line.

[Warthog]

Yup, I agree, Scott. I have Office 2000 installed on two computers with only one license. I do not consider that illegal.

BUT I am about to sell one of those computers with the Office 2000 cds included. I'm planning on buying another comp to replace it. I have made backup copies of Office 2000. If I wanted to really do something illegal, I could save the key code and use the backup copies to install Office 2000 on the new computer.

I guess it's more of a moral obligation. I'm not worried whatsoever about getting caught. Not one bit.

Actually, how would they catch you?

Warthog

[oblivion]

Warthog,the truth is,they do not really care much if you do that.............they are looking more for mass distribution rings of pirated software..........well they would care to an extent,but I doubt they would take you to court over that


I like the analogy of the whole playing your cds whereever you go thing.........

But I have seen EULA's that do allow the software to be installed on more then one computer,so long as they are not being used by two people......................hell,my NoX game actually allowes two people to use the game at the same time on the internet........now that is way cool IMO.

[brandon184]

Here's another analogy...

Use your imagination to think about it, and it will make sense.

Lets say, you and your girlfriend have one car. If only you have one licence between the two of you, only one of you can drive the car, correct?

Think of yourselves as the computers, the car as the cd, and your drivers' licences as the software licences.. Kinda get it now?

I know, I'm really bad at explaining things, and I've had to look this post over about 15 times for it to even make sense to me..



- Brandon

[SysOpt]

Hmm.. Brandon, that post blows my mind.. I'll have to re-read it a few times .

[jad1097]

If you have two cars that are identical you still have to have a separate registration for both regardless if you only use one at a time. Is it BS to have to register both cars even though you don't use them both at the same time?

Microsoft is not the only software company that does this, just about every piece of software you buy only allows you to put it one one computer. Wether it be a big corporation or someone who has developed a shareware program.