Is Microsoft going to far?

[CNCRob]

I had a Visual Studio.net student edition item on ebay and was contacted by Microsoft. They said it was against the law for me to sell it. I didn't know it when I listed it. I have since taken the item off (with me taking the loss of the ebay listing fees). I guess a lot of software companies do such practices, but it still pisses me off. If I have two choses in software from now on I will not buy Microsoft. I checked their user profile on ebay http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...=msnetsafeteam and found I am not the only one it has happened to.

[Geof]

Legally or ethically?

If you check the conditions of "purchase" for the software I think you will find that legally they are not going too far. I put purchase in quotation marks because in many cases, maybe all, you do not buy the software you pay for a user license or something like that. The fine print in the pages that have the button labelled 'I accept' blah blah' you will probably find something about it being non-transferable, etc, etc.

Ethically? That could open a can of worms. If you are of the belief that the role of a company is to maximize returns to the owners/shareholders by any legal means then you have to accept that they are not going too far even ethically.

But I do think they are being petty.

[CNCRob]

Originally Posted by Geof Legally or ethically? If you check the conditions of "purchase" for the software I think you will find that legally they are not going too far. I put purchase in quotation marks because in many cases, maybe all, you do not buy the software you pay for a user license or something like that. The fine print in the pages that have the button labelled 'I accept' blah blah' you will probably find something about it being non-transferable, etc, etc. Ethically? That could open a can of worms. If you are of the belief that the role of a company is to maximize returns to the owners/shareholders by any legal means then you have to accept that they are not going too far even ethically. But I do think they are being petty.

Yeah I suppose your right about the owners and sharholders. But I think it will only be ethical here on earth. When it comes time for them to meet their maker; it may be a different story.

[Rekd]

It's within their legal rights. Almost all software vendors don't allow transfers.

[NC Cams]

You bought a non-transferrable liscense - you never, ever owned the software.

[widgitmaster]

Consider yourself lucky!

They did not pursue a lawsuit against you!
In 1986 I was sued by Disney Corp. for selling floppy diskettes with pictures, one of the images was of the Disney character "Thumper"! They sued me for selling counterfeit images of copyright material! It cost me $2000 plus lawyer fees!

Eric

[Kipper]

Strange subject...I thought all student licences were non transferable (sure could do with one for solidworks $99 as opposed to $7000 After buying software from 2 members of this forum I dont even know if I can sell Mach or the wizards I bought....however whilesoever they work i'm happy Thinking about it if I was to try and transfer them they would be in my name so i'm fairly sure it would neither be ethical nor legal. I arent even sure if the billions in profit way of looking at things ie if Micro$oft sell their OS at "X" amount should I steal it because the guy already has billions (lessens the guilt) but what if a product falls into the category of "worked hard to provide a product worth paying for" small production team and limited beta testing (in the case of M$ thats you and I) Biggest thing in the favour of small companies is that I/We can relate to them M$ is just a huge global company who couldnt care less about us unless of course they are getting hammered yet again for supplying dodgy software which shouldnt be allowed to roam free while individuals take it upon themselves to try and kill it at every opportunity..So I guess i'm saying that you never bought the software so you cant sell it...And always check the terms and conditions if you may want to sell it in the future...Or look at it from the perspective of the software company...would you allow it? Anyone could be selling a "copy" at a knockdown rate... I dont know what exactly I wanted to express other than if it's worth using then pay for it and keep it. btw were you selling it for less than the licence you paid?

[CNCRob]

Originally Posted by Kipper Strange subject...I thought all student licences were non transferable (sure could do with one for solidworks $99 as opposed to $7000 After buying software from 2 members of this forum I dont even know if I can sell Mach or the wizards I bought....however whilesoever they work i'm happy Thinking about it if I was to try and transfer them they would be in my name so i'm fairly sure it would neither be ethical nor legal. I arent even sure if the billions in profit way of looking at things ie if Micro$oft sell their OS at "X" amount should I steal it because the guy already has billions (lessens the guilt) but what if a product falls into the category of "worked hard to provide a product worth paying for" small production team and limited beta testing (in the case of M$ thats you and I) Biggest thing in the favour of small companies is that I/We can relate to them M$ is just a huge global company who couldnt care less about us unless of course they are getting hammered yet again for supplying dodgy software which shouldnt be allowed to roam free while individuals take it upon themselves to try and kill it at every opportunity..So I guess i'm saying that you never bought the software so you cant sell it...And always check the terms and conditions if you may want to sell it in the future...Or look at it from the perspective of the software company...would you allow it? Anyone could be selling a "copy" at a knockdown rate... I dont know what exactly I wanted to express other than if it's worth using then pay for it and keep it. btw were you selling it for less than the licence you paid?

LOL, I bought it used at a yard sale. I had it for a couple of years and never even used it.

[CNCRob]

Originally Posted by CNCRob LOL, I bought it used at a yard sale. I had it for a couple of years and never even used it.

We are expecting another baby and are cleaning out the computer room/office to make room for a nursery. I guess now I will just have to throw it away.

[Kipper]

So I hope you told that to the boys from M$ so they could track down the recalcitrants that sold you unwitttingly something they didnt own...Wheres the number for M$

[Geof]

LOL, I bought it used at a yard sale. I had it for a couple of years and never even used it.

Now I definitely second the 'you are lucky' from Eric. You were trying to sell something that was stolen; not by you but by the person who sold it to you. And because you were purporting to have the right to sell it you were perpetrating a fraud.

Someone was going too far but I don't think it was Microsoft.

[Kipper]

Never even bought it yet you were going to sell it you should burnish your behind for such a felonious act (did I invent a word there?) Actually the word I was looking for is maybe "plenish" either way dont beat yourself up (he's in denial so help the guy out lol) Shame on you "bought it at a yard sale" (covering tracks in case M$ are watching in public forum) Make a goodly donation to the zone and all will be forgiven...Is this a serious thread? if it is hide it lmao