Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!iuvax!bsu-cs!dhesi
From: dhesi@bsu-cs.UUCP (Rahul Dhesi)
Newsgroups: comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Subject: Re: Commercial software in comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d
Message-ID: <6236@bsu-cs.UUCP>
Date: 20 Mar 89 05:18:13 GMT
Reply-To: dhesi@bsu-cs.UUCP (Rahul Dhesi)
Organization: CS Dept, Ball St U, Muncie, Indiana
Lines: 23

DEMOs versus FULLY FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMS

Suppose there is a terrific program that is submitted to
comp.binaries.ibm.pc.  It is fully functional, but the license says
that you may not use it beyond a trial period of 15 days without
paying.  (But it lets you extend the trial period a reasonable amount
of time under "extenuating circumstances", leaving those to your
judgement.)

Another program, submitted at the same time, is terrific too.  It's a
demo, but the only thing that makes it a demo is that 15 days from the
date of first use it will stop working (until you make a fresh copy).
The license says that when you call their toll-free number and tell
them your credit card number, or just say that you will be soon be
mailing them a check, you will get a secret code that will unlock the
program so it will always work.  The license does *not* say that
payment is required; it just says "this is a demo version that can be
converted to the non-demo version..." and explains how.

Should both, or none, or one (which?) be posted?
-- 
Rahul Dhesi         UUCP:  <backbones>!{iuvax,pur-ee}!bsu-cs!dhesi
                    ARPA:  dhesi@bsu-cs.bsu.edu