[Info-vax] VMS VAX License for personal Microvax 3100 Model 40

[chris]

On 07/26/22 00:19, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
> On 7/25/2022 7:06 PM, chris wrote:
>> On 07/25/22 23:24, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
>>> On 7/25/22 18:05, Dan Cross wrote:
>>>> In article <tbmqh7$1dgr0$1 at dont-email.me>,
>>>> Simon Clubley <clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP> wrote:
>>>>> [snip]
>>>>> At this point, I am way more concerned about people pissing off VSI
>>>>> than I am about them pissing off HPE.
>>>>
>>>> I hear your ethical argument, but I find this point in
>>>> particular kind of bizarre. Why should VSI care? They
>>>> didn't license the VAX product and they don't issue VAX
>>>> licenses. In effect they have nothing to do with VAX,
>>>> and VMS on VAX has not been updated with the last 20
>>>> years or so of development on VMS generally, anyway.
>>>
>>> Because some people see this as demonstrating an attitude that
>>> licenses really don't mean anything and they will do as they
>>> please even with other people's IP. There a still some who
>>> feel strongly that it was that cavalier attitude the resulted
>>> in there never being a legitimate PDP-11 Hobbyist Program.
>>>
>>
>> There always those who will try to cheat and in some cases,
>> cause a vendor real loss. You will never stop that sort of
>> thing and vendors will have factored that into their
>> calculations..
>>
>> This subject turns up here with monotonous regularity and
>> the opinions are always the same, but it's an individuals
>> choice based on their sense of fair play and ethics. I
>> don't condone nor condemn it, as it's none of my business,
>> preaching to others, for or against...
>
> But it is not a choice that only imppact themselves.
>
> Stricter license rules, stricter license tools and
> more license audits is something that will hurt
> also the the law abiding users.
>
> So don't be surprised that some people speak up
> against software piracy!
>
> Arne
>

Being a developer myself, always pay for software that's
used for work. For someone just booting vms to test out
hardware out of interest and no commercial gain, would be
considered fair use if ever came to court, but it never
would, in the real world. I don't think that sort of
thing, an obsolete, unsupported os, no longer sold,
would have any bearing on a different companies attitude
towards a hobbyist program, as such a program increases
exposure and potential new customers. A good marketing
approach in itself. The world is not black and white,
but has shades of grey and even colour in the real
world. Words like piracy etc, are just over reaction
to what is a harmless pursuit. Probably just a handful
of eccentric enthusiasts.

One of the reasons VMS slid into disuse were the draconian
licensing conditions compared to other vendors. I've
bought old Sun and SGI  systems s/h in the past and in the
Sun case, was told by the UK office that the OS license
came with the hardware, nothing to pay. In the SGI case,
an Indy Webforce with loads of proprietary apps, the
licenses were transferred at no cost via email, though
the UK office did try to sell me a service contract.
Good people to deal with in both cases...

Chris