disk equals license

From: John Higginbotham <higginbo_at_netpath.net>
Date: Wed Feb 11 11:24:35 1998

At 09:59 AM 2/11/98 -0600, you wrote:

>Your "disk equals license" rule seems far too wishy-washy to me.
>What's special about a disk? Are you saying that every copy a
>company sends you is a separate "copy" that can be given away?

Sounds legit to me. If I found a disk set of Autodesk 3d Studio in the
dumpster, just the disks, no manuals, I'd sure as heck use it, but wouldn't
expect any company support. If I then came across a higher version for that
product and it was cheaper if you already owned a previous version (say it
takes the older version disk to upgrade to newer, then I'd expect to pay
the cheaper price, because it is upgrading the program found on my original
set of install disks, that I rightfully own.

I look at it this way: If someone throws away the disks, they are giving up
their license to use the product. If they throw away the manuals and such,
but still have the original disks, they still have the right to use the
program. If I find the manuals that are thrown away, all I have a right to
do is read the manuals, since there are no disks. If I find the disks, I
have the right to run the program if I so choose.

I'm sure any cold blooded lawyer worth his salt could tear down my logic
and send me to the big house for having those disks and running them, but
how many would take the time, effort and money to try?


- John Higginbotham
- limbo.netpath.net
Received on Wed Feb 11 1998 - 11:24:35 GMT