Digit Technology Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Microsoft explains activation with Windows Vista

sakumar79 · 28-10-2006, 07:01 PM

Yes, tuxfan is correct. The license gives you permission to use the OS on one computer only... However, there are many aspects of the license that are vague... Some allow you to use the one copy on any one machine at any one time (so, it can be shifted to a different computer, but the copy in the previous machine must be removed)... Some allow for only use on one computer as has been initiated in Win XP... Some leeway is given at the moment, but this may not last long...

The main thing is that software created is Intellectual Property. However, IP concept is not clearly understood by people... This is because Intellectual Property is generally not as tangible as physical objects...

Consider a firm making patented chairs... Now, it is not legal for someone to steal a chair and use it for themselves. Also, while it is okay to purchase a chair and use it wherever you want, only one person can use that chair at any time...

To an extent, we should consider IP also as objects created by the manufacturer... Using software by piracy is equivalent to stealing... Also, even when you purchase the software, if the license is for one computer only, we should restrict it in that fashion...

However, due to the economics of the world, the price quoted by software manufacturers is so huge when looking at developping countries that piracy has become a necessary evil for many people... And sometimes, it is even caused by ignorance of these concepts...

Personally, I think that perhaps it may be possible for software manufacturers to provide country-specific pricing with adjustments made for the financial standing of the country... Such pricing may be made available "For Sale and Use in xyz country only"... For example, WinXP Pro Full Version may be 200$ in US and around 9000 in India. But, allowing for conversion rate of about 45-50, instead of pricing it at 200 Rs, maybe it can be priced at 1000 or 1500. Then, by creating an awareness, they may be able to convince people to purchase the software legally. In this process, I feel that they may be able to make out more profit by increasing sales but reducing price... But I dont know about the feasibility of such a scheme...

Arun...

28-10-2006, 07:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
sakumar79 Human Spambot Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Madurai Posts: 2,347	Re: Microsoft explains activation with Windows Vista Yes, tuxfan is correct. The license gives you permission to use the OS on one computer only... However, there are many aspects of the license that are vague... Some allow you to use the one copy on any one machine at any one time (so, it can be shifted to a different computer, but the copy in the previous machine must be removed)... Some allow for only use on one computer as has been initiated in Win XP... Some leeway is given at the moment, but this may not last long... The main thing is that software created is Intellectual Property. However, IP concept is not clearly understood by people... This is because Intellectual Property is generally not as tangible as physical objects... Consider a firm making patented chairs... Now, it is not legal for someone to steal a chair and use it for themselves. Also, while it is okay to purchase a chair and use it wherever you want, only one person can use that chair at any time... To an extent, we should consider IP also as objects created by the manufacturer... Using software by piracy is equivalent to stealing... Also, even when you purchase the software, if the license is for one computer only, we should restrict it in that fashion... However, due to the economics of the world, the price quoted by software manufacturers is so huge when looking at developping countries that piracy has become a necessary evil for many people... And sometimes, it is even caused by ignorance of these concepts... Personally, I think that perhaps it may be possible for software manufacturers to provide country-specific pricing with adjustments made for the financial standing of the country... Such pricing may be made available "For Sale and Use in xyz country only"... For example, WinXP Pro Full Version may be 200$ in US and around 9000 in India. But, allowing for conversion rate of about 45-50, instead of pricing it at 200 Rs, maybe it can be priced at 1000 or 1500. Then, by creating an awareness, they may be able to convince people to purchase the software legally. In this process, I feel that they may be able to make out more profit by increasing sales but reducing price... But I dont know about the feasibility of such a scheme... Arun...