[Info-vax] : Welcome to lockdown - HP limiting access to patches

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 19-02-2011 07:22, Neil Rieck wrote:
> On Feb 18, 12:54 pm, Doug Phillips<dphil... at netscape.net>  wrote:
>> On Feb 14, 5:14 am, Neil Rieck<n.ri... at sympatico.ca>  wrote:
>>> On Nov 6 2010, 7:52 am, Neil Rieck<n.ri... at sympatico.ca>  wrote:
>>>>   Fair enough. Although I always thought these patches were more like
>>>> the warranty/recall process in the auto industry (making the s/w
>>>> product work the way it should have on the day it was released to
>>>> customers),
>>
>> This was posted in the ITRC forum:
>>
>> ##
>> OpenVMS licence info on
>>
>> http://h71000.www7.hp.com/ovmslicensing/openvms_licensing_information...
>> ##
>>
>> A link on that page,<Read the OpenVMS Software Licensing terms>
>> points to a PDF document where you can find this little gem:
>>
>> ##
>> The software warranty period is 90 days for HP Branded software. This
>> is a warranty that the physical media will be free from defects and
>> viruses. There is no warranty that the software will be error-free.
>> ##
>>
>> HP Branded software is provided *as is* and if it doesn't work because
>> they screwed something up, too bad for you.
>>
>> It could be that someplace in a document held in possession by the HP
>> Legal team, there's a statement like the one found in IBM's license
>> (publicly available on-line):
>>
>> ##
>> IBM warrants that the Program, when used in its specified operating
>> environment, will
>> conform to its specifications. The Program’s specifications, and
>> specified operating environment
>> information, can be found in documentation accompanying the Program
>> (such as a read-me
>> file) or other information published by IBM (such as an announcement
>> letter).
>> ##
>>
>> I seem to remember Digital's licenses had similar wording, but it
>> looks like HP's Legal team plugged that hole.
>
> This is a shocking revelation.
>
> Given the high purchase price of OpenVMS software (think about buying
> an expensive car) you would expect a warranty of longer than 90 days
> and never the term "as-is".

VMS is not different from most other software.

Software warranties for plastic wrapped software are not
worth the paper they are or could be printed on.

Arne