Is My Software Legal?
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Dan Knight - 2000.10.27
Worried Wally writes: I got an interesting letter from Microsoft last week: they were offering me amnesty if I pay to license all my "pirated software" within the next two months. I'm not sure how they got my name, address, and email, but I had a business for several years.... I've never been too concerned with the Software Publishers' Association, since I don't bootleg and sell software, but I don't want Federal Marshals kicking in my front door and seizing fifteen years collection of Macs and floppies. Over the years I bought several used Macs, all with software on them - most with the original floppies and install disks.
Do I own this software or not? The original owners are not using copies of these applications or even upgrades, so I'm the only person in possession and, since I have a brand spanking new iMac DV with system 9, I don't really "use" my old computers except to play with.
I don't know if the SPA is after casual users or just businesses making money using unlicensed software, but I'm reminded of Garth Brooks insisting that he should get $3 in royalties every time someone sold one of his old CDs at a garage sale.
Believe it or not, you probably don't own any software at all unless you've written it yourself. When you buy a software package, all you're buying is a license, the right to use that software.
To further complicate matters, different programs are licensed in different ways. Some are licensed per user: you may have the program on more than one computer as long as you are the only one using it. Some are licensed per active copy: the program can be on multiple computers, but only one copy can be in use at any time. Some are licensed per computer: several people can use the computer, but the copy can only be installed on a single machine. And with UCITA, things are getting even stranger - software publishers will be able to license software on an annual basis, check your use of it over the Net, and even deactivate it if you don't pay your renewal fee.
That said, as far as older software is concerned, the rule of thumb is that if you have the original disks, you are licensed to use the program. You should read the license agreement if you have more than one computer to see if licensing is per active user, per computer, etc.
As for how Microsoft got your name, address, and phone number, Microsoft figures that anyone who owns a computer could be running unlicensed copies of Microsoft programs. There's no need to take things personally.
Not sure if you should upgrade your old Mac or replace it? Check the Mac Daniel index to see if we've already addressed your problem.
Recent Mac Daniel columns
- Bringing G3 iMacs and other G3 Macs into the Tiger Age, Dan Knight, 12.07. Tips on hard drives, memory, WiFi, and getting Mac OS X 10.4 installed on G3 iMacs and other older G3 Macs.
- Multiple users on the same Mac at work, Dan Knight, 11.15. How to set up a Mac so multiple users can log in and use it - and use the same pool of work files.
- 1 working eMac from 2 broken ones, Dan Knight, 11.14. A pair of matching eMacs, each with a different failure, results in one working eMac and lots of leftovers.
- Problems running Classic mode in Tiger, Dan Knight, 11.08. After upgrading to Tiger, the old Classic installation stopped working. Where to find the pieces to get everything up to date.
- More in the Mac Daniel index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: iMac Core2, Sep. 2006 - Apple introduced the biggest screen ever in an iMac with a 24" Core2 Duo model at 2.16 GHz.
- List of the Day: Old Mac MP covers 604-based multiprocessor Macs and clones.
- September 6 in LEM history: 99: G4 vs. Pentium III - 00: Setting up a server - 02: Norton Utilities warning - 10 greatest computer annoyances - 06: iMac Core2 Duo - Mac mini Core Duo - The iMac Core2 value equation - 07: Apple seduction - Why I really want an iPod touch - iPod history, 2005 to present - Upgrading a Power Mac G - Apple intros iPod touch, classic, and video nano
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- More links in our archive.
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