Computer software copyright question

hdansjr · 11-12-2005, 05:47 PM

My wife just purchased Microsoft office because she needs it for work. Is it legal to install the software on her brothers computer that he uses for school? I say no, but my wife and I really do not know the answer. I say that we can install the software on all of our computer since we purchased the software, but we can not install it on a realitives. Can anyone clear this issue up? I feel like this falls under the issue of file sharing. Plus we'd have to use the activation code on this computer, right? I really do not know the answer to this.

**jancz3rt** · 11-12-2005, 05:53 PM

As far as I know, although you are right at saying that you purchased it, you cannot install it on more than one PC at a time. Therefore, it is perfectly fine when your wife's brother or your wife uses it, but this has to be done on that one PC. I am almost sure about this. The same holds for Windows XP for example. Therefore to sum up, you cannot install it on more than one PC, but more than one person can use it on that given PC.

JAN

hdansjr · 11-12-2005, 06:21 PM

So since I have it installed on both our home PC and my wife's pc we're breaking the law? I'll just uninstall it on my home pc, cause i do not use it.

Super_Nova · 11-13-2005, 03:01 AM

If you're concerned about it and still need it at home install openoffice:
openoffice.org

It's compatible with microsoft office.

spacedude89 · 11-13-2005, 04:00 AM

Technically it aganst the law to install it on a relatives computer. but you can install it on any computers you yourself own.

vortmax · 11-13-2005, 04:24 AM

you sure? I thought one license was good for one computer. Otherwise you could install one copy of XP on all your family computers.....which windows verification doesn't allow.

At school we have some software on the network server that can be installed on any computer hooked up to it, but there are only so many sight licenses availible. So infinatly many people can have the software installed, but only 10 can use it at one time.

So you should be able to isntall it on whatever computer you want, as long as it's uninstalled from the previous computer first.

spacedude89 · 11-13-2005, 06:01 AM

yea, but most software other than os'es let you have it on multipule computers. if i have five computers, im not going to go buy 5 copys of photoshop, no matter what the licence says. these licences are getting absurd...

**jancz3rt** · 11-14-2005, 12:22 AM

However, the license is a legal agreement and regardless of what you may think, it is legally binding for you as the user. Windows XP or OFFICE cannot be used on more than one computer from the same copy. Therefore, it is illegal to have more than one PC running a single license software package such as MS Office etc.

JAN

**apj101** · 11-14-2005, 12:42 AM

Quote:

but you can install it on any computers you yourself own.

have you ever actually read the licence agreement that you click accept on

vortmax · 11-14-2005, 01:59 AM

i'd be more tempted to if the EULA wasn't 20 pages of legaleze. I don't want to hire a translator just to install software.

11-12-2005, 05:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
hdansjr Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 41	Computer software copyright question My wife just purchased Microsoft office because she needs it for work. Is it legal to install the software on her brothers computer that he uses for school? I say no, but my wife and I really do not know the answer. I say that we can install the software on all of our computer since we purchased the software, but we can not install it on a realitives. Can anyone clear this issue up? I feel like this falls under the issue of file sharing. Plus we'd have to use the activation code on this computer, right? I really do not know the answer to this.

11-12-2005, 05:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
jancz3rt Moderator - F@H Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Czech Republic Age: 23 Posts: 4,009	Hey As far as I know, although you are right at saying that you purchased it, you cannot install it on more than one PC at a time. Therefore, it is perfectly fine when your wife's brother or your wife uses it, but this has to be done on that one PC. I am almost sure about this. The same holds for Windows XP for example. Therefore to sum up, you cannot install it on more than one PC, but more than one person can use it on that given PC. JAN __________________ A64 3700+ @ 2.65Ghz ::: 7300GT @ 600/1500 ::: 2GB RAM @ 440Mhz www.CZ3RT.com ::: FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND ::: F@H Team 44358

11-13-2005, 03:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
Super_Nova Gold Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Memphis, TN Age: 30 Posts: 440	If you're concerned about it and still need it at home install openoffice: openoffice.org It's compatible with microsoft office. __________________ My Suitcase PC: Currently: Mobile AMD Athlon XP 2600+ @ 2133MHz 1GB Kingston Hyper-X @333Mhz 40 GB HD and External USB 120GB Hard drive Shuttle MN31/N Motherboard DVD-Burner Planned: More cutting and mounting of brackets and accessories.

11-13-2005, 04:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
spacedude89 Diamond Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Oregon Age: 19 Posts: 1,419	Technically it aganst the law to install it on a relatives computer. but you can install it on any computers you yourself own. __________________ Desktop: Abit AW9D-MAX ~ Core 2 Duo E6300 @ 2.4GHz ~ Radeon X1900GT Laptop: HP ~ Core Duo T2050 ~ nVidia 7600 First smiles, then lies. Last comes gunfire.

11-13-2005, 04:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
vortmax Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Age: 26 Posts: 619	you sure? I thought one license was good for one computer. Otherwise you could install one copy of XP on all your family computers.....which windows verification doesn't allow. At school we have some software on the network server that can be installed on any computer hooked up to it, but there are only so many sight licenses availible. So infinatly many people can have the software installed, but only 10 can use it at one time. So you should be able to isntall it on whatever computer you want, as long as it's uninstalled from the previous computer first. __________________ Asus A7N8x delux Nforce 2 AMD Athlon 2800+ (barton core) 512 meg Corsair DDR 400 Gainward G-force FX 5200 Dell 6000i Intel Pentium M 725 (1.60 GHz/2MB Cache/400MHz FSB) ATI MOBILITY RADEON X300 64MB HyperMemory 1 gig DDR2 PC2-3200 Music server: AMD K6 500 MHz 128 Meg RAM Onkyo HT-R520 Reciever 6.1 DTS ES & Dolby Digital EX

11-12-2005, 06:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
hdansjr Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 41	So since I have it installed on both our home PC and my wife's pc we're breaking the law? I'll just uninstall it on my home pc, cause i do not use it.

11-13-2005, 06:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
spacedude89 Diamond Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Oregon Age: 19 Posts: 1,419	yea, but most software other than os'es let you have it on multipule computers. if i have five computers, im not going to go buy 5 copys of photoshop, no matter what the licence says. these licences are getting absurd... __________________ Desktop: Abit AW9D-MAX ~ Core 2 Duo E6300 @ 2.4GHz ~ Radeon X1900GT Laptop: HP ~ Core Duo T2050 ~ nVidia 7600 First smiles, then lies. Last comes gunfire.

11-14-2005, 12:22 AM	#8 (permalink)
jancz3rt Moderator - F@H Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Czech Republic Age: 23 Posts: 4,009	Yes However, the license is a legal agreement and regardless of what you may think, it is legally binding for you as the user. Windows XP or OFFICE cannot be used on more than one computer from the same copy. Therefore, it is illegal to have more than one PC running a single license software package such as MS Office etc. JAN __________________ A64 3700+ @ 2.65Ghz ::: 7300GT @ 600/1500 ::: 2GB RAM @ 440Mhz www.CZ3RT.com ::: FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND ::: F@H Team 44358

11-14-2005, 01:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
vortmax Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Age: 26 Posts: 619	i'd be more tempted to if the EULA wasn't 20 pages of legaleze. I don't want to hire a translator just to install software. __________________ Asus A7N8x delux Nforce 2 AMD Athlon 2800+ (barton core) 512 meg Corsair DDR 400 Gainward G-force FX 5200 Dell 6000i Intel Pentium M 725 (1.60 GHz/2MB Cache/400MHz FSB) ATI MOBILITY RADEON X300 64MB HyperMemory 1 gig DDR2 PC2-3200 Music server: AMD K6 500 MHz 128 Meg RAM Onkyo HT-R520 Reciever 6.1 DTS ES & Dolby Digital EX

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode