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#1
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Win98 now considered abandonware?
Is it now (in 2009) legally OK to run unlicensed copies of Win98 /
Win98SE? |
#2
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Win98 now considered abandonware?
On 07/29/2009 12:28 AM, gluino wrote:
Is it now (in 2009) legally OK to run unlicensed copies of Win98 / Win98SE? Uhmm, where did you get that idea? Legally? No. There actually is no software that has been copyrighted [or held as copyrighted], trademarked, and otherwise [such as marketed] to be considered as abandonware, unless and until the legal time period has expired [which due to the numerous legal hooks associated with Windows 98 will be far in the future and only if Microsoft makes no further legal advancements regarding Windows 98] or has been publicly released [as in completely without any legal hold, except perhaps that it remain public [GPL or the like] (which is prime for another legal discussion regarding those ramifications)]. The claim by some, that if the producer no longer exists there must be abandonment is legally unfounded. The same holds true for end of life/lack of further support issues. All nations have their own Laws related to this activity which might have an effect on what is held by the courts when confronted. -- ~ -- MEB http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networking http://peoplescounsel.org The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government _______ |
#3
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Win98 now considered abandonware?
On 07/29/2009 12:28 AM, gluino wrote:
Is it now (in 2009) legally OK to run unlicensed copies of Win98 / Win98SE? Uhmm, where did you get that idea? Legally? No. There actually is no software that has been copyrighted [or held as copyrighted], trademarked, and otherwise [such as marketed] to be considered as abandonware, unless and until the legal time period has expired [which due to the numerous legal hooks associated with Windows 98 will be far in the future and only if Microsoft makes no further legal advancements regarding Windows 98] or has been publicly released [as in completely without any legal hold, except perhaps that it remain public [GPL or the like] (which is prime for another legal discussion regarding those ramifications)]. The claim by some, that if the producer no longer exists there must be abandonment is legally unfounded. The same holds true for end of life/lack of further support issues. All nations have their own Laws related to this activity which might have an effect on what is held by the courts when confronted. -- ~ -- MEB http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networking http://peoplescounsel.org The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government _______ |
#4
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Win98 now considered abandonware?
gluino wrote:
Is it now (in 2009) legally OK to run unlicensed copies of Win98 / Win98SE? Glad you asked. Yes, it is perfectly legal. A windows 98/se CD image can be obtained via torrent. Some come with a list of product activation keys (no keygens required). If you need a win98/se product activation key, let me know. I'll post it here. Remember that unlike Windows XP, Windows 98 does not perform on-line product activation. So there are no hacks or cracks required to install and use windows 98. |
#5
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Win98 now considered abandonware?
On 07/29/2009 01:38 AM, MEB wrote:
On 07/29/2009 12:28 AM, gluino wrote: Is it now (in 2009) legally OK to run unlicensed copies of Win98 / Win98SE? Uhmm, where did you get that idea? Legally? No. There actually is no software that has been copyrighted [or held as copyrighted], trademarked, and otherwise [such as marketed] to be considered as abandonware, unless and until the legal time period has expired [which due to the numerous legal hooks associated with Windows 98 will be far in the future and only if Microsoft makes no further legal advancements regarding Windows 98] or has been publicly released [as in completely without any legal hold, except perhaps that it remain public [GPL or the like] (which is prime for another legal discussion regarding those ramifications)]. The claim by some, that if the producer no longer exists there must be abandonment is legally unfounded. The same holds true for end of life/lack of further support issues. All nations have their own Laws related to this activity which might have an effect on what is held by the courts when confronted. Opps, sent that before it was finished... Since you ask specifically about Windows 98, you should first take note of its User Licensing Agreement. Note specifically that *no one* has ever actually "owned" their copy of Windows 98, Microsoft does. ANY copies in existence therefore are Microsoft's property, which brings in to play another area of Law, and I'm not sure how adverse possession would play in the myriad of Laws that bind the program, but it would appear rather pointless to attempt that method. -- ~ -- MEB http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networking http://peoplescounsel.org The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government _______ |
#6
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Win98 now considered abandonware?
On 07/29/2009 01:38 AM, MEB wrote:
On 07/29/2009 12:28 AM, gluino wrote: Is it now (in 2009) legally OK to run unlicensed copies of Win98 / Win98SE? Uhmm, where did you get that idea? Legally? No. There actually is no software that has been copyrighted [or held as copyrighted], trademarked, and otherwise [such as marketed] to be considered as abandonware, unless and until the legal time period has expired [which due to the numerous legal hooks associated with Windows 98 will be far in the future and only if Microsoft makes no further legal advancements regarding Windows 98] or has been publicly released [as in completely without any legal hold, except perhaps that it remain public [GPL or the like] (which is prime for another legal discussion regarding those ramifications)]. The claim by some, that if the producer no longer exists there must be abandonment is legally unfounded. The same holds true for end of life/lack of further support issues. All nations have their own Laws related to this activity which might have an effect on what is held by the courts when confronted. Opps, sent that before it was finished... Since you ask specifically about Windows 98, you should first take note of its User Licensing Agreement. Note specifically that *no one* has ever actually "owned" their copy of Windows 98, Microsoft does. ANY copies in existence therefore are Microsoft's property, which brings in to play another area of Law, and I'm not sure how adverse possession would play in the myriad of Laws that bind the program, but it would appear rather pointless to attempt that method. -- ~ -- MEB http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm Windows Diagnostics, Security, Networking http://peoplescounsel.org The *REAL WORLD* of Law, Justice, and Government _______ |
#7
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Win98 now considered abandonware?
98 Guy wrote:
gluino wrote: Is it now (in 2009) legally OK to run unlicensed copies of Win98 / Win98SE? Glad you asked. Yes, it is perfectly legal. Total BS all Microsoft OS's legally must be licensed A windows 98/se CD image can be obtained via torrent. Some come with a list of product activation keys (no keygens required). If you need a win98/se product activation key, let me know. I'll post it here. Remember that unlike Windows XP, Windows 98 does not perform on-line product activation. So there are no hacks or cracks required to install and use windows 98. |
#8
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Win98 now considered abandonware?
philo wrote:
Is it now (in 2009) legally OK to run unlicensed copies of Win98 / Win98SE? Yes, it is perfectly legal. Total BS all Microsoft OS's legally must be licensed When you type in a Win-98 product key during installation, you have effectively, legally, endowed the system with a valid, legal license. But also keep in mind that Microsoft has no mechanism to track the installation and use of Windows 98. But it doesn't matter. As long as the total number of systems running windows 98 at any given time does not exceed the total number of win-98 licenses sold by Micro$haft, then they have no basis to claim any sort of financial harm. If a computer running win-98 is up and running, then it's effectively licensed. |
#9
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Win98 now considered abandonware?
philo wrote:
Is it now (in 2009) legally OK to run unlicensed copies of Win98 / Win98SE? Yes, it is perfectly legal. Total BS all Microsoft OS's legally must be licensed When you type in a Win-98 product key during installation, you have effectively, legally, endowed the system with a valid, legal license. But also keep in mind that Microsoft has no mechanism to track the installation and use of Windows 98. But it doesn't matter. As long as the total number of systems running windows 98 at any given time does not exceed the total number of win-98 licenses sold by Micro$haft, then they have no basis to claim any sort of financial harm. If a computer running win-98 is up and running, then it's effectively licensed. |
#10
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Win98 now considered abandonware?
No. It is not legally OK to run an unlicensed copy of Windows 98, and it
won't be until Microsoft officially places the software in the public domain, which is not likely to happen any time soon. -- Jeff Richards MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User) "gluino" wrote in message ... Is it now (in 2009) legally OK to run unlicensed copies of Win98 / Win98SE? |
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