3 ms·

Taking someone to small claims court over state lines is exceedingly difficult, let alone in another country. How is a "timebomb" not legal? I think Microsoft

by logn 14y ago

Taking someone to small claims court over state lines is exceedingly difficult, let alone in another country. How is a "timebomb" not legal? I think Microsoft call its version of this "Genuine Advantage". And the shareware community calls this a Trial Period.

gcb0 14y ago
That's a very good point. Things like those should be Illegal. Not the 'time bomb'/"genuine advantage' but the fact that people lie to you during the sale. a Trial Period is explicit. Renting is explicity. time bomb and genuine advantage or how microsoft is selling Office at staples nowadays is not! it's criminal and devised to take money out of the likes who still pay AOL on top of Cable for Internet.
- yuhong 14y ago
  "time bomb and genuine advantage or how microsoft is selling Office at staples nowadays is not!" What do you mean?
  - gcb0 14y ago
    microsoft is selling it's subscription model version of office, along with other software that is not subscription based. so basically they are making people believe they are buying office when they are renting it for a year.
- logn 14y ago
  Genuine Advantage and related DRM philosophical issues aside, I don't see a problem with deactivating a product designed on behalf of a client who hasn't paid. Not warning them is tricky (and not sure if it even serves a purpose), but even if they sue you, just file a counter-suit for an unpaid invoice.
  - gcb0 14y ago
    exactly, not warning them. that's why when i see microsoft 'selling' office to people that are used to buying office and they do not realize they are 'renting' it for a year, i think it should be illegal.
gallerytungsten 14y ago
>Taking someone to small claims court over state lines is exceedingly difficult, let alone in another country. Taking someone to small claims court over state lines is not difficult at all. You simply serve the suit by certified mail. However, collecting on the suit, once you win a default judgment, can be difficult.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
snowwrestler 14y ago
I think a "time bomb" would be legal if it disclosed in advance, in the contract language, and the client is aware of it before signing on the dotted line--as is the case with Genuine Advantage and shareware trial periods. If it is hidden in the software without telling the client, it's a defect at best. Edit to add: The nature of the relationship might matter too. There is a difference between a software purchase agreement, and a consulting "work made for hire" contract.

by logn 14y ago

gcb0 14y ago

That's a very good point. Things like those should be Illegal. Not the 'time bomb'/"genuine advantage' but the fact that people lie to you during the sale. a Trial Period is explicit. Renting is explicity. time bomb and genuine advantage or how microsoft is selling Office at staples nowadays is not! it's criminal and devised to take money out of the likes who still pay AOL on top of Cable for Internet.

yuhong 14y ago
"time bomb and genuine advantage or how microsoft is selling Office at staples nowadays is not!" What do you mean?
- gcb0 14y ago
  microsoft is selling it's subscription model version of office, along with other software that is not subscription based. so basically they are making people believe they are buying office when they are renting it for a year.
logn 14y ago
Genuine Advantage and related DRM philosophical issues aside, I don't see a problem with deactivating a product designed on behalf of a client who hasn't paid. Not warning them is tricky (and not sure if it even serves a purpose), but even if they sue you, just file a counter-suit for an unpaid invoice.
- gcb0 14y ago
  exactly, not warning them. that's why when i see microsoft 'selling' office to people that are used to buying office and they do not realize they are 'renting' it for a year, i think it should be illegal.

gallerytungsten 14y ago

>Taking someone to small claims court over state lines is exceedingly difficult, let alone in another country. Taking someone to small claims court over state lines is not difficult at all. You simply serve the suit by certified mail. However, collecting on the suit, once you win a default judgment, can be difficult.

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

snowwrestler 14y ago

I think a "time bomb" would be legal if it disclosed in advance, in the contract language, and the client is aware of it before signing on the dotted line--as is the case with Genuine Advantage and shareware trial periods. If it is hidden in the software without telling the client, it's a defect at best. Edit to add: The nature of the relationship might matter too. There is a difference between a software purchase agreement, and a consulting "work made for hire" contract.