2005/9/21, Holden Hao <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
> > They don't bother reading the licenses. Aside from the occasional
> > geek, IP lawyers, and corporate sysadmins, who does?
>
> Yes, this is true. There are Cafes who are now buying XP licenses but
> they are buying OEM versions. Rumor has it that OEM licenses are valid
> if you purchase it along with a peripheral like a mouse. I checked this
> out at MS website. Apparently, the earlier version of their license was
> subject to misinterpretation that was why the rumor persisted. They
> have since changed the terms they used and it is now clear that OEM
> versions can only be purchased along with a fully-assembled PC.
>
> Perhaps the next wave of raids will be for valid licenses and no longer
> piracy.
This is exactly the dilemna I encountered several years back...
The Microsoft EULA for OEM versions provides that it is only valid if
it is purchased with a NEWLY assembled PC.
If you have already purchased a PC _without_ the MS OEM products,
you have two choices:
1. Buy a boxed product for each computer; OR
2. Enter into a license subscription plan (site wide OR quantity of PCs)
Periodic payments are made (yearly, ...) to maintain the legality
of the use of MS products.
NOTE:
EVEN IF you bought MS OEM versions for your existing PCs,
the license is not valid. You are deemed using _ILLEGAL_ software.
*AND*
EVEN IF you bought a newly assembled PC with MS OEM product,
if that PC becomes destroyed/obsolete and replaced,
the OEM product/license you legally purchased may NOT be legally
used on the new/replacement PC. You have to buy a NEW one.
Moreover, MS Server EULA mandates that you have to pay a fee
or license for each client that connects to the server (exclusive
of the fees/license that you bought for each server and workstation).
Fortunately, when I analyzed the system of the company I am helping
at the time and after I researched and tested GNU/Linux distributions,
I found out that migration to GNU/Linux systems is not only possible,
it is quite easy and straightforward. (This is case to case basis)
It started out as a project for compliance with I.P. laws, but there
are far greater benefits ... less maintenance costs (TCO) due to
1. virtual immunity to virus (no more corruption of data/system)
2. abatement of frequent system crashes (OS stability)
3. freedom (NOT only in using the software BUT freedom from
anxieties due to repeated checks / calls from MS, NBI, and
government regulatory agencies.)
NOW: They stopped calling (weekly then) when they found
out that the company is now (3 years now) 100% I.P. law
compliant and uses GNU/Linux (even in in-house software
development).
HTH
Arys
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