Anybody using a "real" Linux domain 3746

In a message on Thu, 26 May 2005 19:25:55 -0400, wrote :

Yes, this is in the *fine print* of the EULA. The license is 'non-transferable' -- you cannot transfer it to a new machine. (Newer versions of MS-Windows will balk if-when you only 'upgrade' your computer, since the installer takes a 'snapshot' of your hardware configuration.) It is not even legal to sell a used computer complete with the M$ software, *unless* you have all of the paperwork AND original media and all copies. If you don't have all of that, your are *supposed* to wipe the disk clean. It is illegal for a corporation to donate used, working computers to schools, etc. unless they wipe the O-S off the machine. *Microsoft* will sue! (*Microsoft* *has* sued organizations who have taken older (donated) computers and made them available for impoverished school children.)

It IS BS, but it is *legal* BS. If *Microsoft* sold your refrigerator, you would indeed have to leave it behind when you move... Listen to your lawyer, he knows what he is talking about -- you really don't want Microsoft's legal staff landing on your doorstep...

But if you toss one of these PCs (because it has died or is too 'old' (slow, not enough memory, small disk, whatever)), you have to toss the 'documented legal license' for that machine away and *buy a new one* for the replacement machine. Note: Microsoft *won't* sell you a new Win2K license. You would have to get a *new* WinXP license or a Win2003 Server license (many, many dead heads of state). As I said above -- you may have to get a new license even if you only upgrade the machine (eg new disk, more memory, faster CPU-Motherboard). And Microsoft *new* licensing system may mean that you have to get new licenses every year, *even if you don't buy new computers*.

Note: software 'licenses' are not *prof of ownership*. You don't *own* the software, you only have a 'license' to *use it*. Since you don't own it, you cannot sell, trade, or otherwise transfer ownership of it -- you can't sell or trade or transfer something you don't own.