[NTLUG:Discuss] I got this offer

[Chris Cox]

Daniel Hauck wrote:

>Technically, neither.
>
Perhps in Indonesia... lots of places to hide...

>
>I had a friend who did that type of operation several years ago (is it him?
>what's the email address?)  He was even selling them at the Saturday sale.
>Microsoft stopped by and expressed disapproval and then much later they
>busted him.  They couldn't bust him for what he was doing though...
>
If your "friend" really did sell illegal copies of Microsoft (or other 
SW)... he broke the law...
plain and simple.  It used to be very popular to acquire the throw-away 
OEM copies, either
through contacts or at auctions... this too is illegal unless the copies 
are acquired with the intended
destination computers from the original agreement and sold by an 
authorized reseller.

In other words, that OEM copy of Microsoft Office you  may have picked 
up for $50 at
Used Stuff Etc., is likely illegal.... which is why you don't see too 
much of this in the Dallas
area anymore, btw.  Now the selling of OEM product to used/consigment 
stores is probably
still done, however, I think under a strict interpretation of the law, 
you're not allowed to
do this either... but I don't think that has been sufficiently 
challenged yet.  I'm not saying the
law is right or wrong... I believe if the software "belongs to you", you 
should be able to
have say so over the rights of transfer of that software to another.... 
but the law on that is
another matter.

The only way to "sell" backup copies (if it legal at all) would be to 
have the person submit
proof of ownership (privacy implications of this aside).... I've seen 
this technique used
on out-of-print software/audio (usually to get copies on CDs).... again, 
not sure it is totally legal
either.

>
>...they busted him for use of Microsoft trademarks. :)  So if anyone does
>it, just make sure it's clearly labelled and no trademarked  information is
>on the label.  Otherwise, it seems to be legal at the moment.
>
I really would not trust this advice... my two cents.  I think there's 
enough there to make
a clean bust.

>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Fred James" <fredjame at concentric.net>
>To: <discuss at ntlug.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, July 02, 2002 11:08
>Subject: [NTLUG:Discuss] I got this offer
>
>
>  
>
>>I got this offer from something called "Warez CD" to sell me "backup"
>>CD's and serial numbers for different software, at $19.99 a set.  The
>>claim is it is the same thing as the boxed set, just no box or manual.
>>They are advertising Adobe, Microsoft, etc., software, including XP Pro,
>>Photoshop 7.0, Office XP Pro, etc.
>>
>>My first thoughts were "pirate" and "sting" - how about you?
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>  
>