Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!hao!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!hplabs!hpda!hpesoc1!hpindda!hardin
From: hardin@hpindda.HP.COM (John Hardin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Shareware legal at work
Message-ID: <4330033@hpindda.HP.COM>
Date: 14 Feb 88 20:50:49 GMT
Organization: HP Information Networks, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 44

Subject: use of PD and Shareware in a commercial environment

I've seen a lot of discussion of shareware and honesty on the net
recently, but I've been running into a problem that I have not
seen discussed that keeps money out of the hands of shareware
providers and keeps me from using their software.

My company has established rules for the use of software on PCs
that requires a master disc (i.e., the officially labeled
distribution discs that come with commercial software) for all
software on the PC.  I have been informed verbally that an
official registration number on something like company letterhead
stationary may suffice, but this is not in the written guidelines.
Any software that displays a copyright notice when run requires
such proof of legality.

PD software that prints a copyright is unusable at my site.  I have
noticed that it is not uncommon for PD software to be copyrighted by
the author, presumably for his/her own protection and to keep third
parties from turning it into their own commercial software.

Shareware that asks for a donation or that asks for the user to 
register, but returns no proof of registration, is also unusable.
Regardless of any money set to the author, the auditors will see
this as illegal/pirated software.

There are many more PCs used at work than at home.  If the policies
used where I work are (or become) widespread, then shareware
providers will have to get serious about their endeavor if they
want to realize significant returns.  Casting software onto the
waves in a bottle containing a request for money just won't do
it.  You'll have to provide master discs or some other proof of
registration to your customers and be prepared to deal with a
large company's purchasing department instead of the real user.

There are several shareware packages that I would register at work
next week if the author could satisfy our auditors.  As it is, 
I just can't use these packages at work.  

John Hardin
Hewlett Packard
Disclaimer:  I am representing myself here, not Hewlett Packard.
	     All opinions, mistakes, and misconceptions are my
	     own.