Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!uunet!zephyr.ens.tek.com!tekgen!sail!toma From: toma@sail.LABS.TEK.COM (Tom Almy) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc Subject: Re: Selling old version of software. Message-ID: <9792@sail.LABS.TEK.COM> Date: 25 Jun 91 22:22:05 GMT References: <1991Jun25.203743.27619@riacs.edu> Reply-To: toma@sail.LABS.TEK.COM (Tom Almy) Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR. Lines: 30 In article <1991Jun25.203743.27619@riacs.edu> endter@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov (Bill Endter RCU/DEC) writes: >In article , potelle@MAINE.MAINE.EDU ("John A. Potelle") writes: >|> Can anyone comment on the legal problems (if any) of selling old >|> versions of PC software that is no longer is use [...] > It depends on how the product is licensed. Some companies allow it, but > others don't. The best way is to check with company who makes the software. > As I recall, Borland is one of the ones who will let you do this (it seems > they want everyone to have their software), and Microsoft is one of the > ones who doesn't. I thought that was true about Borland, but one of my coworkers just called them on the phone and they said that old copies must be destroyed, although nothing ever shipped has stated that to be the case. Microsoft has stated that old versions cannot be sold. Lotus requires that old copied be destroyed. WordPerfect allows you to donate old copies (providing they are complete) to schools (high school or below), and the school can then license them as new, and get support(!), for free. > I think one of the reasons Borland allows it, is because they hope the > person who gets the old software will want to upgrade to the latest version. That's what I thought. But we are still investigating. -- Tom Almy toma@sail.labs.tek.com Standard Disclaimers Apply