Hi all >From: David A Schwartz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>The othe Starmax list had a similar discussion about a year ago. A patent >attorney contributed his take on the situation. As I understand it, when >you buy a new computer, you are also buying a license for the OS. The >license is non-transferable. So if you make a copy of the OS and give it >away (or sell it), that is a copyright infringement. If the person to whom >you give it (or sell it) uses it, that is also illegal (he did not purchase >a license to use the software). I think this is the reason many thrift >shops (Salvation Army or other nationally known groups) no longer sell used >PCs...Microsoft insisted that the OS be wiped from their hard drives, and >the thrift shops don't have the manpower and/or expertise to wipe them. Seems to me that this is the problem with the corporate attitude regarding software in general. The comparison was made between the car/car license and the machine/operating system license It's an inaccurate metaphor. The OS is gas. It's how the car/computer runs. I sell a car, I don't take out the gas. You sell a computer, it seems you do have to take out the gas/OS. Or, a company gets to charge twice for a single product. Would you buy a Ford where you paid the owner and the original manufacturer? Which is as much as to say that this is why people do go to warez sites and swap burned discs. There is a feeling that the Microsoft's and Adobes and Apples are not competing to provide service and product at a fair price. Especially if they don't intend to deliver either as in the case of old Motorola OS discs. Which leaves me with a question--can someone post the URL's of retailers that will sell a generic OS9 disc? I am admittedly lazy but I haven't found anything in my very cursory jaunts across the net. Cheers, Doug F. -- StarMax is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... / Buy books, CDs, videos, and more from Amazon.com \ / <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/lowendmac> \ Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> StarMax list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/starmax.html> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/starmax%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
