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From: psmith@iies.ecn.purdue.edu (Paul F Smith)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: PKZIP license (FAQ?)
Keywords: PKZIP sharware etc
Message-ID: <1991May15.161605.27462@noose.ecn.purdue.edu>
Date: 15 May 91 16:16:05 GMT
References: <1991May13.180456.7220@noose.ecn.purdue.edu> <1991May13.214634.18373@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu>
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Organization: ADPC, Purdue University
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In article <1991May13.214634.18373@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu> rschmidt@copper.ucs.indiana.edu (roy schmidt) writes:
>psmith@iies.ecn.purdue.edu (Paul F Smith) writes:
>
>SMITH>The department where I work here at Purdue University is in the midst
>SMITH>of a (small) battle over "getting legal" (software-wise, that is). 
>SMITH>In particular, we seem to be at odds over the license for PKZIP for DOS. 
>SMITH>It says:
>SMITH>
>SMITH>  You are free to use, copy and distribute PKZIP for noncommercial us IF:
>SMITH>             NO FEE IS CHARGED FOR USE, COPYING OR DISTRIBUTION.
>SMITH>             IT IS NOT MODIFIED IN ANY WAY.
>SMITH>
>SMITH>
>
>This is not the only information that Katz includes with PKZIP.  He
>details that organizations can purchase multi-copy deals at cut rates,
>and gives an individual (personal use) rate as well.  Now hwy do you
>think there is such a rate if you are "free to use" it?  The clincher is
>in the statement that "If you find this software to be of use" you
>politely asked to register it!
>
>Now, just because there is no threat and no distaster will occur if you
>don't register, doesn't mean that it is morally (or legally) correct to
>continue using the software without registering.
>
>I have seen the above lines reproduced on the net many times as some
>person's justification for not paying Mr. Katz his due.  While I do not
>use his software, I have tried it, foound it to be of no more use than
>my own "home-grown", and therefore dropped it.  I just don't understand
>why people are always looking for someone else to put in hours and hours
>of hard work to provide them with something for free!
>
>(Soap box off) :-)
>
>In any case, yes, your school must register to be legal.i
>
>--
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Roy Schmidt                 |  #include <disclaimer.h>     
>Indiana University          |  /* They are _my_ thoughts, and you can't
>Graduate School of Business |     have them, so there!  */

I would just like to say that I agree with Roy's points.

I wasn't trying to justify not paying for the software, unless Mr. Katz
himself had intended to allow public institutions to use it for free.
I couldn't quite tell from his license statments, and many people
around here had the same problem.

What I really wanted to know was what PKWare had to say about this, not
everyone else. Fortunately, I got a message from their CI$ account,
which answers my question. 

Thanks to all for the bandwidth.
--
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Paul F. Smith - ADPC - Purdue University     psmith@ecn.purdue.edu