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* Posts by Snipper

3 publicly visible posts • joined 19 Feb 2008

Consumer group slams 'unfair' software licenses

Snipper

What we've actually bought

You know, it sometimes makes me wonder if all this arguing about EULAs being unfair is a bit backwards.

Microsoft may say "you've bought a licence", but let's face it, we're buying a box with a CD in that purports to contain software that has a particular use.

If that software isn't in the box, then it's not As Described.

If there is no licence that makes the software usable (as copyright law would demand), then it's Not Fit For Purpose.

Either of which means you should be able to return it and get your money back.

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Snipper
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@Mark

The point I was trying to make was that you only need abide by the licence for as long as you are doing something that would otherwise be prohibited by law: for example installing, copying, or using a work that is under copyright.

After uninstalling said work, you are no longer performing actions that require a licence. Therefore, you can consider the licence terminated.

Until you reinstall, and need to agree to it again.

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Snipper
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Licences might not be quite what you think...

A licence is what enables you to use a piece of software. If you break the terms of the licence, you may no longer use it. This works both ways: if you no longer use it, you may break the terms of the licence (subject to law, copyright, etc.)

So while it may read that you can't transfer it to another computer, you can still uninstall it from your current computer, and then you're not bound by that instance of the licence any more. Fortunately, when you install it on another computer, the software is usually nice enough to offer you a nice, fresh, new licence for you to use.

IANAL, of course.

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