Seiler@MIT-XX.ARPA (04/02/84)
From: Larry Seiler <Seiler@MIT-XX.ARPA> Dear jpm, Even supposing that the support for two machines costs no more than for one (what if they are different machines running different versions of the code), why shouldn't a software house want to get paid for each copy of its software that is run? Is that greed? If so, then what word describes your attitude of refusing to pay them? Or when you said that you were "forced to sign" the agreement, did you mean that two tough guys came over and beat you into submission? Gimme a break! Many people have made rational comments on the problems of software piracy and restrictive software licenses. You are not in that group. While a no-exceptions single CPU license may be too restrictive, there has to be SOME restriction or else all the software houses will go out of business. What should it be? All computers owned by one person? All computers owned by a single business? Does anybody really think that a copmpany with 50 PC's running text editors should pay the same for that text editor as a company with only one PC? Clearly, there should be some middle ground between paying once for 50 copies and paying 50 times. In a business setting, this middle ground is sometimes called "volume discount". Some more flexible policies for non-business users should also be available. If anyone has rational suggestions, you are welcome to reply. If anyone takes the attitude that they have a right to whatever they want, and will lie to get it, please crawl in a hole. Larry Seiler Seiler@MIT-XX -------
BILLW@Sri-Kl.ARPA (04/03/84)
Single CPU licenses are a sore point with me also. SRI has what I consider a good compromise with mark of the Unicorn (makers of EMACS clones...). What we do essentially is buy one copy of the software/documentation/etc. Then, for everyone at SRI who would like to run a copy of Mince, an unlucky volunteer copies the disk into an approproate format and xeroxes all the documentation, which is given to the new person in the "SRI Amythest users group", and we send something like $50 to Mark ot the Unicorn. Now, Amythest (Mince/Scribble/BDS C) is normally about a $300 package. MotU can expect to get about 40% of that if distributed through normal channels, much of which is actually spent, so MotU ends up getting a good deal. Including copying costs, its costs each SRI person about $135, instead of $300, which is a good deal for them. Everyone feels good about the arangment, which is good for everyone, and it encourages people at SRI to use the same software, which is good for ME. I think we have the same deal for the IBMPC version of MINCE. I wish other distributers had similar arrangments! Right now, someone comes into my office and wants to transfer files from his apple to our KL, I tell him he has to go out and buy a copy of "the ASCII professional", and then.... If I could just let him copy a disk and give me a charge number, evything would worka lot nicer.... BillW
kevinw%isl@sri-unix.UUCP (04/03/84)
>> Many people have made rational comments on the problems of software >> piracy and restrictive software licenses. You are not in that group. Somehow it seems to me that this is a completely irresponsible of voicing your own opinion. This kind of intolerance will not assist the discussion of "rational" comments. -- K