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

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 7/27/2022 5:46 AM, gah4 wrote:
> On Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 12:59:38 AM UTC-7, Andy Burns wrote:
>> gah4 wrote:
>>> Most likely this machine had a valid license.
> 
>> But only transferable to a new owner on payment of a fee.
> 
> So a different question.
> 
> A machine can run a legally licensed copy, but just not to me?

Anybody that has a valid VMS license can run VMS.

That a previous owner of some hardware had a valid VMS license
does not give the current owner of the hardware a valid license.

It requires the license to have been transferred every time
the hardware changed owner.

> Does everyone who uses a machine need to have a license,
> or only one?

That depends on the license.

But I believe VMS licenses are for 1 machine. I have never
heard about a VMS site license.

>              Do you have to have it in hand while using it?

You just need to have it.

Practically it is nice to be able to find the documentation
in case of a license audit.

> And how exactly do you transfer a license for VAX/VMS?

The seller need to provide papers and HPE needs to
approve the transfer (which they will require a fee for).

That is probably a difficult path.

It has been written a couple of times that HPE leasing
has VMS licenses from returned hardware and that they
are transferring the licenses - which sort of makes sense
as the alternative for them is to throw the licenses
in the trash bin.

> In any case, I would feel less guilty about using a licensed
> machine than an unlicensed one.

You may feel better because someone paid a fortune for a VMS
license like 30 years ago.

But legally what matters is whether you have a license.

Arne