Chad wrote:
Extortion? omg. When was the last time Bill Gates rolled up on somebody
Ever been subject to an audit by the BSA?
If you haven't, here is how much it will cost you:
Multiply the number of computers you have by $2,500. That is roughly
the amount you will pay in damages, for your legally acquired software.
with a glock and said install Windows or get capped?
The working assumption of the BSA is that Windows is the only legally
acceptable operating system. They have been known to require the
purchase of Windows XP, for computers running Solaris, because Solaris
is "pirated Windows XP Server". [I don't remember the outcome of that
court case, but having to pay an attorney to prove to a court that the
BSA employees are idiots is legal extortion.]
>Nobody forced Windows down anyone's throat.
Only if you discount the distribution agreements that prohibit selling,
or distribution of competing products --- especially operating systems
--- that they required vendors to sign.
>Could your employer require Windows? Sure they could.
It isn't just an employer issue.
You might not realize it, but there are organizations like schools,
colleges, hospitals, professional associations, law courts, etc that
require documents to be submitted in a format that requires an
application that is only available for the windows operating system.
Nobody's threatening you with bodily harm if you do not use Microsoft
products.
Legal harm, which is more expensive in both the short term, and long
term, than bodily harm.
xan
jonathon
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