Illegal to install software on more than one of your own computers?

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minofifa

minofifa

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I was just wondering if there are laws against installing your own software on your own computers for your own exclusive use. I currently use sonar on a laptop but i am getting a desktop next week and i want it on both. There is no way i'm paying for sonar twice as i could barely afford it the first time. Also what about installing windows twice but on the same machine with a partition? no problems there right?
 
As long as you're not using it on both systems at the same time, there is no real issue.

I have the same Cakewalk software installed on my desktop and laptop, but never have them both running HS2004 at the same time.

Its all spelled out in the EULA.
 
Windows, each individual coexisting (not necessarily simultaneously running) install requires a single separate license. Even in cases like using a virtual machine within a machine with microsoft virtualpc and a virtual install, each individual virtual install requires a license...
 
Yes. Completely illegal. Who cares. No one is going to call you on the carpet for it. For those of you who flinch at the 'illegal' and the 'who cares', note that the laws have been changed by corporate America to favor them and screw you. Of course, if you're rich enough, buy away.

Some software examines your PC and creates a 'profile', each profile must be registered seperately. I have never been rich enough to try what I am going to suggest, but if both of your boxes are identical, then you might try ghosting the hard drives. Should work. Interesting to find out.

Another solution is to buy USB drives, position them on a network, and install your software there. Easier and cheaper than setting up a server.
 
Wheel is right. It's illegal, and well... it sucks. :mad:

And Wheel is also right when he says that no one is gonna call you on it.
Nonetheless, it still ticks me off. I'm "old school" and I feel that if I buy a software program, I should be able to do whatever I want with it in the privacy of my own home. If I want to install it on my laptop AND my desktop, then I should be allowed to do so.

Yeah, making copies is fundamentally wrong, but it's not the fiscal gloom and doom that software companies would have you believe. Their markup is outrageous, and if anything, they use it as an excuse to jack up their prices.

But hey, that's just my opinion. :D
 
brzilian said:
We're not talking about the OS...
Click to expand...
Actually, he is...

minofifa said:
Also what about installing windows twice but on the same machine with a partition? no problems there right?"
Click to expand...

I wonder about network installing. Installing it for one computer at one network location doesn't change the core OS files that often need to be changed at other locations you wish to use it on... at least I don't think. I've never tried it myself...anyone?
 
that's just crazy talk....
not being able to instal windows twice on the Same system??? talk about a money grub.
 
Joeybear said:
Wheel is right. It's illegal, and well... it sucks. :mad:
Click to expand...

Wheel is NOT right - or at least not completely right.

This is defined by the software license (that stuff nobody reads when they install their software). Some software licenses do indeed allow installation on more than one machine, usually with the proviso that both are not used simultaneously.

To determine whether it is legal for any particular piece of software, you need to read the license. I don't recall offhand, but I actually think Cakewalk licenses might allow for this type of usage.

Many companies do recognize that you could LEGALLY simply uninstall the software from one machine and reinstall it on the other - and vice-versa when you want to go back to the other machine. Since that is quite impractical, they allow for this approach in "spriit" by allowing for dual installs but not simultaneous usage.

Obviously if the software is not copy protected, you can pretty much do whatever you want. The question here, however, was whether it was legal or not. And the answer is it depends on the software.
 
dachay2tnr,

Very good point. I stand corrected; at least to some extent. :D
But I still think the software companies are full of shit. :(
 
I once researched this issue, all the way from the reps at Microsoft, up to the NY State Attorney Generals office (I have no life)...never really did get what I would consider a 'straight' answer from the lawyers there.

I would imagine that Dachay is correct when referring us to read the EULA.

That being said...
I recently installed Win XP on my computer. I keep on getting this message stating that I MUST 'activate' XP within 30 days (not 'register'--THAT is NOT required), or it will no longer be usable. It would be interesting to go through the motions of trying to 'activate' the same copy of XP a second time, six months from now, as if I wanted to pull it off my old DAW and use it on a second one. Would I have to 'deactivate' xp?

Hmmmmm.....
 
ya i'm waiting for the Fed's to come knockin on my door anyday now. For my palm pilot, i have to instal microsoft outlook to sync the pocket pc to my computer. I installed it the first time and activated it, then i had to reformat (cause I"m an idiot) so i ended up activating it again not 24 hours later.... i'm sure that's a red flag somewhere in the evil mirosoft empire.
 
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