Do you HAVE to supply a license sticker??

"TX2" wrote in message
...
In article , says...


What has it to do with you?


I run a small local computer services business.

If the trader in question is trading illegally, it is everything to do
with me, as he is potentially affecting my profits by cutting prices on
his systems to an unknowing public who could have otherwise come to me
for the genuine article, albeit at a higher cost, but none the less, the
genuine article.

So, instead of turning a blind eye to illegal activity, I would prefer
to do something about it, both from a business sense, and a moral one.

Does that answer your question?

M%S or T Standards then. But IMHO you would be hitting your head against a
brick wall. In my local area possibly 99% of small comp vendors are flying
very near the wind with regard to illegal practices concerning licensing!

Osprey

On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 10:34:45 +0100, "Snowdon Computers"
wrote:

"Cheeky" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 28 Jul 2003 16:47:51 +0100, "Snowdon Computers"
wrote:

"TX2" wrote in message
.. .
If you supply a Windows XP machine with Windows XP installed, do you
HAVE to supply a license sticker with that installation, even if you do
not have to supply the original Windows XP disc?


I used to think so but I recently sold a load of PCs to a local
university.
The PCs had blank hard drives and no licence stickers but aparently the
Uni
did some investigating and found that they could install their Windows 98
image onto them legally as the PCs were originally supplied with a
licenced
Windows 98 from Dell although there is no available proof with the
machine,
somewhere there exists a record that the serial numbers have valid Win98
licences connected to them.

This was news to me and as I was just supplying the blank hardware I
didn't
argue. Does anyone know any better?

Are you sure that's not because they've got a site license from MS? I
used to work at a uni and they had a site license for unlimited copies
(on-site) of various flavours of Windows and Office in addition to
cheap copies of software for members of staff (MapInfo for £15,
anyone?).....


I don't think so as they were very particular about whether I could supply
the licences or not. The majority of the networked PCs run on Win2K so maybe
their site license is a Win2K one?

Quite possibly..... maybe if they have 2K they also have retrospective
rights on 98...... Quite why anyone would install 98 over 2K is,
perhaps, another debate!
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You might want to consider the posibility the customer aquired this
software knowingly himself but blamed the shop when called on it. Is
the shop advertising a £400 computer with this software? Without going
near the morals of software piracy if you deal with the public and
kick up a fuss with everyone who brings a computer with pirate
software on it you may find word gets around...
Unfair but perhaps a thought.

"TX2" wrote in message
...
In article , says...

M%S or T Standards then. But IMHO you would be hitting your head against
a
brick wall. In my local area possibly 99% of small comp vendors are
flying
very near the wind with regard to illegal practices concerning
licensing!

You have evidence to back that up?

If it's the case, then please, let me know which area you are in, the
traders involved, and which offences you feel are being committed, and I
will personally take time to report the matter to Trading Standards
myself.

Will you;-)

It's easily done via their web site, and they will contact you to
discuss the matter further. I've not experienced any head hitting when
dealing with them in the past.

Well, what's your problem then? Take it up with the powers that be about the
firm down the road:-(

Yes, I appreciate that this sort of violation goes on, but in my
experience it is ordinarily only within the 'bedroom' brigade operators
rather than customer facing retail outlets such as the one I have.

And who are you? What company!

Osprey

"ff" wrote in message
...
You might want to consider the posibility the customer aquired this
software knowingly himself but blamed the shop when called on it. Is
the shop advertising a £400 computer with this software? Without going
near the morals of software piracy if you deal with the public and
kick up a fuss with everyone who brings a computer with pirate
software on it you may find word gets around...
Unfair but perhaps a thought.

Perfectly put IMHO.

Osprey

TX2 wrote in
:

Yes, but this is a brand new machine, supplied as new, with Windows XP
professional installed. No doubt were I to dig further, I would find
(embedded in the registry) one of the well known illegal licence numbers
that are in circulation.

Get Aida32 http://www.aida32.hu; it can tell you your XP product key. It
seems to be an astoundingly useful program, too.

--
Ross Tregaskis
online diary @ http://www.inquisitor.myinternetpass.com

"Well-Tech Computer Centre" wrote in message
...
You're quite right there mate, I had a high street shop up until last
year,
and the other 'shop' in the area was undercutting me by about the cost of
a
licence, but try telling the public that. When they asked what the
difference was, most didn't want to pay 65 notes plus vat for a 'sticker'
as
they saw it. To make matters worse, I used to get undercover trading
standards in regularly, asking to buy a machine, and say 'could you just
put
windows on it mate and no charge me for it !!'. How they never caught my
'competitor' i don't know. If you think it's affecting your business, set
TS
on them anyway !!

Unfortunately I believe such evidence wouldn't stand up in court as the TS
officer asked for it to be done therefore this is seen as a honeypot method.
Also, who's to say that not charging doesn't mean you include it in the
price of the machine anyhow and give a proper license in the end. I'm
certain that TS wouldn't go throught with a full purchase but I have every
sympathy with your case and others in a similar situation.