[Info-vax] What Will Drive More OpenVMS Adoption?

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 12/6/2021 2:12 PM, Simon Clubley wrote:
> On 2021-12-05, Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) <helbig at asclothestro.multivax.de> wrote:
>> In article <soj03a$202$2 at dont-email.me>, Dave Froble
>> <davef at tsoft-inc.com> writes:
>>
>>>>>>> With the VSI Community License Program, members of the community can
>>>>>>> download OpenVMS for free for learning, open source development, and
>>>>>>> exchanging knowledge of the operating system on Alpha and Integrity
>>>>>>> systems. This program replaces the HP Hobbyist program.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The wording has changed a bit.  But it is still non-commercial.
>>>>>> Open-source can be non-commercial, but it can also be commercial.
>>>>>
>>>>> Isn't there a difference between working on commercial software, such
>>>>> as porting to VMS, and using commercial software?
>>>>
>>>> Using commercial software has nothing to do with VMS licenses.
>>>
>>> Huh ?????????????????
>>
>> ????????
>>
>> Obviously VMS is commercial and its use involves VMS licenses.  That is
>> not the topic here.  The question is whether the hobbyist license would
>> cover open-source development on VMS for commercial software and, if so,
>> if that would be the case only if the developer received no
>> compensation.
> 
> I think David might be asking if you can run commercial software on
> a hobbyist system.
> 
> For example, if you could somehow get hold of a legal copy of Word Perfect
> for Alpha, could you run it on a hobbyist system for personal use ?
> 
> If so, that's a good question, and I don't know the answer.

A license is an agreement between the software vendor and the software
user and can include limitations on software use.

VSI can and does limit use of VMS under CL. And given that an OS is
used for everything on a system then it practically limits the use
of the entire system.

So a CL licensed system cannot be used for anything commercial.

It does not make any sense for VSI to limit what SW can be installed
on the system and what licenses they come under. And I do not remember
there being anything like that in the CL license.

So I cannot see why you cannot install your paid WP software
on the system - just note that even though the WP license may
permit it then the VMS license still prohibits commercial
work including in WP as WP use the OS.

Arne