Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!veritas!amdcad!brahms!phil
From: phil@brahms.amd.com (Phil Ngai)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: LEGALITY OF SELLING SOFTWARE
Message-ID: <1991Feb21.012456.22548@amd.com>
Date: 21 Feb 91 01:24:56 GMT
References: <1991Feb12.200901.9129@hellgate.utah.edu> <1991Feb15.021607.164@amd.com> <1991Feb17.132821.12965@anomaly.SBS.COM>
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Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc; Sunnyvale, CA
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In article <1991Feb17.132821.12965@anomaly.SBS.COM> mpd@anomaly.SBS.COM (Michael P. Deignan) writes:
|This "concept", while unique because it attempts to address the question
|of installation on multiple machines yet only having a single user at a time,
|has got to be the stupidest thing I've ever seen.

And you have a better idea? I won't ask you to give MS credit for at
least trying to address an issue few other companies show concern for,
since you seem to hate them so much.

|When we received our Windows SKD, we got one of these cards. The "terms"
|state that you can only use the software package when you are in physical
|possession of this "card". So, now we have to treat employees like children
|"Hi Mike, can I have the Windows SKD pass?" - just like you ask for the
|bathroom pass in elementary school.

If you have two users and one license, you have to coordinate usage somehow.

|Furthermore, assume I have the pass on me. I go to lunch. Now, Joe wants
|to do a quickie compile to fix a small bug. Technically, according to the
|license agreement, he can't use the package, because he doesn't have 
|"physical possession" of the pass.

The license agreement, which you apparently haven't bothered to read,
but are happy to flame about, allows for this. The full license defines
two types of use, DEDICATED and TRANSITORY.

In DEDICATED use, you basically load the SW on one and only one machine and
anyone is allowed to use it. In addition, if there is one user who uses the
machine more than 80% of the time, he/she is also allowed to use the SW
on a portable or home machine.

If Joe wants to use your machine while you are out to lunch, this is fine.

In TRANSITORY use, every user is required to have a license card in their
physical possession.

I don't think it's asking too much for you to leave your license card
on your desk when you go out to lunch in case someone else wants it.

|This type of contract is completely unenforceable. How will Microsoft
|ensure that companies are upholding their end of the contract? Send in
|little "pass-police" to check people's PCs and make sure if they are
|running a package that they have the pass for it.

I guess they are relying on the honor system, for which they seem to
draw your contempt. What's your alternative, Mr. Smart Guy?

|For that matter, why didn't Microsoft just use one of those parallel
|port protection devices? It accomplishes the same thing - and ENFORCES
|the license agreement to one machine - whichever one has the port plug
|hooked up at the time. Why didn't they do this? Because people would
|laugh at them and say "The hell with you, I'm not going to buy this
|copy protected software package."

And what is your point? Some companies do use such schemes and I think
they are horrible. MS doesn't, and you think they stink. I wonder if
they could do anything that would meet with your approval?

--

It is time for California farmers to share in the water
shortages that the cities have endured for 5 years.