Re: Community and freedom : was Re: [LUG] Farseer enterprises

[Rob Beard <rob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Richard Brown wrote:

> Quick question. I know many computer shops that regularly load up w98 
> on machines and hand-out newly burnt cds of said distribution quite 
> freely. They all contain the same serial number or one of about five. 
> Is this legal? Have they bought a right to do this? Using Linux and 
> the 'free' and 'freedom' argument counteracts this quite well.
Installing the same copy of Windows on multiple PCs with the same serial 
number generally isn't legal.  There is a thing called Select (or is it 
now called something else? can't remember), which companies can use.  
They basicly get a shed load of MS software and can install it on all 
the PCs in the company and they pay a lower cost for licences, but I 
think it requires a minimum order amount.

If the computer shop is selling copies of Windows 9x, or supplying PCs 
without a valid COA then that is illegal.  I didn't think they would 
take the risk myself.

Rob



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