Protection schemes
2 messages in this thread
I agree entirely that a business must have protection-free software. Ron's
idea of a registration number embedded in the product is OK, because it does
not hamper the use of the software.
I've always felt that some software publishers were totally unreasonable. For
instance, saying that their software had to be registered to only one computer
within the company was completely unreasonable. Some purchasers are just as
bad. Example: the company that wants to buy one copy of a program and then
have twenty peple use it all the time.
When I want a good product, I'd probably buy it even though I hated the
protection. If it were within my capability, I'd then break the protection as
quickly as possible. But it would remain in my own possession only.
(continued)
I agree with you on the unreasonableness of some licensing restrictions,
especially when its says it can only be used on a particular machine. Part of
my job is evaluating software for potential use in my organization. I will
usually try out the software first and then pass it on to other users in the
organization for their evaluation. I do all the evaluations myself and
personally erase the software from the hard disk when it is passed on to the
next evaluator. With some software I suppose I am technically violating the
agreement, but I sure won't buy 5 copies so 5 people can evaluate the product
sequentially. I used one package recently which had a particularly awful
licensing agreement. This package would allow you to plot data on a map by
using different shadings (sort of like thematic maps it atlases). You could
generate your own data also or import it from a database. The package came
with some maps and databases and the company sold additional maps and databases
beyond what was provided for in the program. However the licensing agreement
said I couldn't use a map or database from a third party if the company that
sold me the program also offered the same database or map. No way would I live
with that type of restriction. One interesting final comment on piracy. I work
for a government organization up here in Canada, and have heard recently of
nightime raids by the Mounties in other government departments. The Mounties
would check the hard disks and if you didn't have the manuals in your office or
couldn't prove that the sw on your HD was legitimate then the individual was
charged and some people we also fired! Soon after this news came out we
received a flood of purchase orders for sw from managers in our organization
and we bought a $100,000 site licence from WP <Lynn you should have WP send the
Mounties a thank you card!). Of course this type of action could instigate
some real nasty strategies in the struggle to climb the corporate
ladder….like sticking a pirated program way down in your boss' directory and
then an anonymous phone call….well you get the idea!