A couple of interesting points have been raised in this thread. Let me add to the knowledge base and also ask a question: On ebay I sometimes see software offered along with a computer part (a blank CD!), apparently allowing the seller to meet the letter of the law and ebay's terms. I think, however, not all software can be sold this way. I also see people selling an office suite for about $4.95 plus shipping and handling (usually listed at a higher charge than I suspect it costs the seller, there by adding to his/her profit. If you read the fine print, the suite is a copy of Open Office, which I suppose is salable under the GNU agreement. Here's the question. In on of the responses someone mentioned that office (I assume MS) bought already loaded on a machine, could not be transferred to another machine, i.e. it was tied to the first machine, so it might not be as good an investment long run as buying the software separate and then being able to remove it and transfer it to another machine as needs require. For you System Admins out there - have you had any luck switching the MS users to Open Office and presumably saviing tons of money? Is it accepted pretty much as a free drop in or substitute? Larry Clemens ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Sinks" <tsinks at isd.net> To: <tclug-list at mn-linux.org> Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2003 9:46 AM Subject: Re: Software licenses was Re: [TCLUG] [Somewhat OT] Good 1U Hardware for Linux > I find this all rather amusing about the software licenses. This obviously > is more than just an M$ problem. This is still shaking out about rights and > ownership of nebulous thoughts and programs. It will go on for some time > because it is changing as I write this email. > However, it reminds me of my former SE form HP who referred to the giant as > 'Bill's Software of the Month Club'. He also called another organizations > production as 'Novel Notware'. > It was a lot easier to set up the rights, patents, and copyrights for > distinct, new, and printed items. Now with the ease of copying, CD's, > tapes, and proof of dates it is difficult to establish the finite > differences in these items. The problem with OEM copies is they are part of > the hardware distribution. You can not establish a distinct payment or > ownership to them without the purchase of the hardware. These are critical > to the copyrights and licenses of the item. At the point they leave the > licensed hardware they are not legal. They are owned by the hardware owner > as the purchaser. > In reality this is not much different than the ownership of the OS > application materials for a large Unix system where the license is tied to > the hardware with a code and the serial number. It can be changed to a new > system, but with a new code and serial number given by the hardware or > software maufacturer. > Remember, if you build, design, or create something it is your right to > establish ownership of that creation whether it be a piece of furniture, a > new rocket, or some unique written software to accomplish something that > someone wants to be able to do. It is the American Way. > > Thanks, > Tim Sinks > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Tom Penney" <blots at visi.com> > To: "TCLUG" <tclug-list at mn-linux.org> > Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2003 8:59 AM > Subject: RE: Software licenses was Re: [TCLUG] [Somewhat OT] Good 1U > Hardware for Linux > > > _______________________________________________ > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > http://www.mn-linux.org tclug-list at mn-linux.org > https://mailman.real-time.com/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list _______________________________________________ TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota http://www.mn-linux.org tclug-list at mn-linux.org https://mailman.real-time.com/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list