OT: An Interesting Read About Bit-Torrents

[Atrocities]

geoschmo said:
Somebody will have to explain to me why this is a bad thing. Why do we assume that we have an inalienable right to make copies of software, even for backup purposes?

Simply put Geoschmo, we do not. That is clearly outlined and stated in all software licenses. It is our responsibility to read the included documentation when we install and use software. If the software is acquired illegally, then you have no excuse to be using it and are running the risk for doing so. That said, many people opt to use pirated software as opposed to buying it.

I do think though, that out dated software should be considered low priority and therefore encouraged to be traded freely. It is a win win situation for the manufacture. They interest people in their old software, while positioning themselves to sell more new software to those who like their old software.

Ask yourself this question, all those programs you have boughten over the years, how many of them do you still use? Why allow them to go to waste? You can sell the copies to a second hand store, or do what many people have done, and interrupted the law to mean that they can publish copywrited software on a P2P network.

I for one do not like to obtain things via p2p. I simply feel that I should pay for them so that I have ownership over the right to use it. I do not own the software or the program, but I do own that copy and am responsible for it. In that way, I do back up my copies, or buy a second copy when I can afford it. I simply believe that if I am going to pay $50.00 plus for something that can be damaged or destroyed very easily, I want a spare. Like a spare tire so to speak. However that does not mean that I want to use someone else’s used or spare tire.

JMHO and 2 cents worth.

(Spelling errors)

[Phoenix-D]

Atrocities said:

Simply put Geoschmo, we do not. That is clearly outlined and stated in all software licenses. It is our responsibility to read the included documentation when we install and use software. If the software is acquired illegally, then you have no excuse to be using it and are running the risk for doing so. That said, many people opt to use pirated software as opposed to buying it.
(Spelling errors)

The problem here is Geo's point -has nothing to do with piracy-. Its making backup copies of software you own. I for example have..hmm, I think 4 SE Gold discs.

You can't apply the shirts logic to software because its a completely different idea. You buy a shirt to have..the shirt. Not the tags, not the packaging. The CD is just an extension of the packaging.

Software liscenses, BTW, are legally probably worth much less than the time it takes to click them. Many include illegal clauses, add conditions after the fact to a sale (illegal), and/or can't even be read until after you've bought and opened the software. All of that makes it seriously questionable if they can be enforced.

[Alneyan]

Phoenix-D said:
Software liscenses, BTW, are legally probably worth much less than the time it takes to click them. Many include illegal clauses, add conditions after the fact to a sale (illegal), and/or can't even be read until after you've bought and opened the software. All of that makes it seriously questionable if they can be enforced.

There has been a ruling in Missouri (in early October 2004) that EULAs are actually enforceable, if you have given your agreement (you should be fine before clicking the Ok button). I think the case was about Blizzard and reverse engineering, which was forbidden by the terms of the licence.

So EULAs can be used in courts, though I believe a district ruling is not enough to be applied to the whole federation; still, it may be used as a precedence I guess. But don't quote me on that, since I am no lawyer.

[Jack Simth]

Hmm... would that imply that if you found a way to skip the "I agree" portion of the installation (say you copied a CD image to your HD, found the text of the EULA, altered it, then burned a CD off the new image and installed) you'd be in the clear? I've suddenly got this strange desire to tinker....

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Another reason to read before you sign.

[Atrocities]

narf poit chez BOOM said:
Another reason to read before you sign.

How do you sign a CD?

[narf poit chez BOOM]

According to some EULA's, clicking the 'I Agree' button is the same as your legal signature.