[Info-vax] The Doom of VAX VMS Hobbyist Licenses?

[Dave Froble]

On 7/20/2020 6:27 PM, Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) wrote:
> In article <rf4pdt$i8k$2 at dont-email.me>, Dave Froble
> <davef at tsoft-inc.com> writes:
>
>>>>> Try to get a commercial license.  Buy it from someone.  If someone sells
>>>>> it to you, and you bought it in good faith, I don't see any legal
>>>>> problems.
>>>>
>>>> Actually Phillip, that is illegal under the license terms.
>>>
>>> What is illegal?
>>
>> A DEC software license is not transferable by the licensee.
>>
>> Your $300 transfer was something DEC did, not the licensee.
>
> Yes, of course, the $300 transfer was paid to DEC, but involved the
> transfer of license from one person to another, so obviously they can be
> transferred.
>
> Or are you saying that if someone paid, say, $5000 for a license, he is
> not allowed to sell it---for any price---but can only agree to have it
> transferred (with someone paying $300 to DEC)?
>

That is exactly what I'm saying.

A license has no value, it is not property.  At least with DEC software 
licenses, it is an agreement between DEC and the user, and cannot be 
sold or transferred.  Only DEC could transfer a license.

At least that's how DEC intended it.  I'm sure some lawyer could 
challenge the concept.  Or at least try to do so.

Users paid a fee to use the software.  It's a bit like rent.  You don't 
own the house after paying rent for years, do you?

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
DFE Ultralights, Inc.
170 Grimplin Road
Vanderbilt, PA  15486